Aqua Vitae 2022 Ontake 4 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Aqua Vitae 2022 Ontake 4 Year Old Single Cask Single Malt Japanese Whisky is a powerful young single cask release from Ontake Distillery in Kagoshima, Japan, distilled on 21 February 2022 and bottled on 6 March 2026 after four years of maturation. Matured entirely in an Oloroso Sherry Butt, Cask #521 demonstrates the remarkable concentration and maturity Ontake’s spirit can develop at a relatively young age, combining rich sherry influence with the distillery’s clean and elegant malt character. Bottled at a formidable natural cask strength of 58.5%, only 591 bottles were produced, making this a particularly limited expression from one of Japan’s emerging whisky distilleries.

Distillery: Ontake Distillery
Bottler: Distillery Bottling – Owner’s Cask
Selected By: Bar Germer × Spirits Salon × Whisky Gallery × Aqua Vitae
Age: 4 Years Old
ABV: 58.5%
Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry Butt
Cask Number: #521
Outturn: 591 Bottles 

Located in Kagoshima in southern Japan, Ontake Distillery is a relatively young Japanese whisky producer whose single malt releases have quickly attracted attention amongst enthusiasts. This particular cask forms part of Ontake’s Owner’s Cask programme and was jointly selected by four whisky specialists: Bar Germer, Spirits Salon, Whisky Gallery and independent bottler Aqua Vitae Whisky Selection. The collaboration brings together Japanese distillation and Taiwanese whisky expertise, with the group selecting a single Oloroso Sherry Butt that they felt best represented the quality and character of Ontake’s developing spirit.

Tasting Notes:
Rich aromas of raisins and dried black cherries emerge alongside caramel, toffee and dark fruit, followed by layers of cocoa, roasted nuts and polished oak spice. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, delivering dark fruits, molasses, dried figs and creamy milk chocolate balanced by the sweetness of Oloroso sherry and Ontake’s clean malt character. Cinnamon and clove build through the development before leading into a long, warming finish of cocoa, gentle coffee, toasted nuts and lingering oak spice.