Glenfiddich Debuts New 'Grand Yozakura' Whisky Inspired by Japanese Sakura

In celebration of Japan's hanami festival, Glenfiddich is set to release a limited-edition single malt whisky called Grand Yozakura on Mar. 27.

This unique Scotch is the first to be finished in ex-Awamori casks, a culmination of six months of ageing the 29-year-old whisky in Glenfiddich’s Scotland-based Dufftown cellars, bringing together the flavours of both Scotland and Japan.

Aged for six months in these rare casks, Grand Yozakura is part of Glenfiddich's "Grand Series," dedicated to experimental cask finishing. Awamori, the oldest known distilled alcoholic spirit in Japan, is traditionally made using long grain indica rice and stored in clay pots. Only a small proportion of Awamori is aged in oak casks, making these barrels rare and highly prized.

The Grand Yozakura has a zesty nose of darkened almonds, with tasting notes of creaminess and slight fruity zest, a strong oak finish, and a little bit of spice.

Crafted to celebrate the hanami festival, which marks the beginning of Japan's cherry blossom season, the bottle packaging features an illustration by Japanese artist June and a traditional poem printed on an outer case.