Written by Mika Tanimoto, Owner-Bartender, Bar Little Happiness — Hiroshima’s specialist whisky & rum bar with 1,000+ bottles
Sakurao Distillery’s Visitor Center Limited expressions are not widely distributed — they are sold exclusively at the distillery in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, and represent some of the most interesting experimentation the Sakurao team does with unusual cask types.
The Bordeaux red wine cask expression is one that I have been watching with particular interest. Bordeaux casks — used primarily for red wine maturation in the Médoc region of southwestern France — bring a specific combination of tannins, dried fruit richness, and a slight savouriness that differs significantly from the more commonly used sherry or port casks.
Why Bordeaux Casks Are Interesting
Sherry casks dominate the wine-cask conversation in whisky because their character is familiar and the results are well-documented. Port casks add sweetness and red fruit. But Bordeaux — particularly barrels from the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-producing châteaux of the Médoc — have a more angular, less sweet influence. The tannin structure is different from sherry. The fruit character trends toward dark plum and cassis rather than dried fruits.
For Sakurao’s coastal base spirit — already fresh and fruit-forward from the Seto Inland Sea environment — Bordeaux cask maturation creates an interesting juxtaposition: maritime brightness meeting Gallic structure.
The Visitor Center Limited designation means that obtaining this expression requires a visit to the distillery, which is itself an argument for making that trip. Hatsukaichi is accessible from central Hiroshima by local train in approximately 30 minutes.
Read the full Japanese column: little-happiness.jp/columns/sakurao-bordeaux-cask/
Bar Little Happiness | Hiroshima, Japan
Rum & Whisky specialists | 1,000+ bottles | English menu available
Open Mon–Sat 7PM–12:30AM, Sun 7PM–midnight
No cover charge. Walk-ins welcome.
english.little-happiness.jp