In the bottle: Like waking a sleeping giant, Zuiko 30yr starts with strong waves of Awamori notes that come sweeping through; for a thirty-year-old bottle this is exceptionally bright, rich, and full of earthy notes that add a nice level of complexity to the entire experience. At 42% alcohol AbV, I was hard-pressed to find much alcohol on the nose, and what was there blended perfectly with the richness of the rice and the long maturation process. Overall impression, mature yet lively, with depth that feels earned over 3 decades of sleep and is ready to be enjoyed.

On the rocks: The brightness on the nose is front and center right from the first sip; however, it’s a bit alcohol-forward at the start with a hint of a sharpness to it, not offputting but it i. As the ice melts a little more and Zuiko mellows, what you have in front of you is absolutely amazing and worth savoring every sip to fully experience all of these beautiful aged Awamori notes of vanilla, caramel, cacao and dried fruit, all of which carry both freshness and a refined maturity. This is a perfect bottle to let the ice melt to smooth out the sharp edges and let that long-aged mature richness and earthy complexity shine through.

Diluted with water

4:1 ratio: Similar to letting the ice melt a bit, adding a little bit of water is where Zuiko 30-year really opens up. Everything becomes smoother in just the right way, which allows those beautiful Awamori notes to shine and rise to the top, especially the toasted rice, a little caramel, candied cherries, and vanilla all make an appearance. Some of the more earthy notes such as clay and damp hay also start to come forward and add nicely balance to the finish. These additions really add to the depth and complexity of what Zuiko brings to the table, especially after 30 years of aging. 

Enjoy on the rocks or with a little Water