Yamazaki Sherry cask was elected Best Single Malt in the World last year…this was yet one more medal for the largest producer of whisky in Japan: for over a decade now, Suntory and its fellow competitors have been sweeping most top accolades off the Scots’ feet! This class is about understanding WHY. Now that the US market has opened up to this category, with at least 9 distilleries represented on our shelves (with many expressions each), let’s take advantage of this new variety to explore the intricacies of this altogether highly scientific and deeply mysterious craft. Tradition and innovation amazingly sync up in this 92 year-old story, from the fine-tuning of a Scottish heritage to the borrowing of American whiskey techniques and the always dominating spirit of improvement so dear to the Japanese. Dedicated scholars will have prepared the class by (re)viewing “Jiro dreams of sushi” and “Lost in translation”. While you won’t get to taste this particular Yamazaki Sherry cask, you’ll get a blast sampling 7 currently available whiskies.