Two new Yoichi single casks

Nikka whisky announced two new single cask bottlings from its Yoichi distillery today. The lightly peated 1987 (cask no. 112805, 58 per cent alcohol) and more heavily peated 1988 (cask no. 100129, 61 per cent alcohol) will sell in the Asahi Shop for 21,000 yen and 18,900 yen respectively.

Nikka describes the 1987 as hitting the palate with a soft, rounded vanilla sweetness backed up with some malt, creamy bittersweet notes and coffee nougat! The 1988 is less compromising, with more peat and marine tastes.

Read More......

Great gallery of bottle shots

The France-based Japanese Sake and Spirits Society has a gallery of bottle shots up on Facebook . It is perhaps a symptom of the desperate emptiness of my life that I enjoyed just flicking through the photos.

Actually, it would be a great education for anyone starting off on this Japanese whisky road. It gives a sense of the diversity and quality.

Image stolen from the society's gallery.

Read More......

Camper English on Whisky Bars

The award-winning drinks writer Camper English has a post about whisky bars in Japan, following his recent visit. Oil, in particular, looks intriguing.

Read More......

The Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel (no age statement)

Distillery
Yamazaki

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic:

"The Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel (no age statement). 48 per cent alcohol.
Nose: Juicy. Tropical fruit salad infused crisp oak. Vanilla, passion fruit, lychee, pineapple, pear, strawberry, blueberry bagels. Some hay, bran, cane sugar, currants.
Palate: Lovely. Big sweet-spice hit balanced with a little salt. The spicyness gives a bigger mouth feel than The Hakushu Bourbon Barrel. More of the tropical fruit salad with some added butteriness. Pecans and sweet pear.
Finish: Medium on tropical fruits, blueberry bagels, pecan pie, hint of menthol and well integrated oak.
General comment: Highly recommended
Rating: 89/100." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

Read More......

The Hakushu Bourbon Barrel (no age statement)

Distillery

Hakushu

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic:

"The Hakushu Bourbon Barrel (no age statement). 48 percent alcohol.

Nose: Fresh oak, pepper, earthy peat, lime juice, soap flakes, cherry blossom, pineapple and a little salt

Palate: Typically clean Hakushu mouth feel. Immediate hit of pepper. Licorice, lime juice, subtle earthy peat, some peanut shell bitterness, strawberry chocolate, menthol.

Finish: Is short-medium on pepper, lime juice, strawberry chocolate then fades to green apples.

General comment: Think of punchier version of Hakushu 12 with some added sweetness.

Rating: 86/100." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

Read More......

New bottling of Taketsuru 35

A new limited-edition bottling of Nikka Whisky's pure malt Taketsuru 35-year-old will be available from Dec 1.

There will be a total of 1,000 750 ml bottles available and 50 of those will be available from the Nikka online shop from 10 a.m. on the launch date.

A tasting will be hosted by Nikka's chief blender Tetsuji Hisamitsu at the Blender's Bar in Tokyo from 7.30 pm on Dec. 1. A 30ml glass of the new offering will cost 4,000 yen (compared to the normal 5,000 yen). There is no entry fee. You need to book by telephoning the Blender's Bar, because seats will be limited (03-3498-3338).

I had the very good fortune to try some of the last bottling of Taketsuru 35 when some of Nikka's top brass were entertaining a visiting group from Europe back in 2008, an event which which I rather embarrassingly gatecrashed. The whisky almost made the embarrassment worthwhile. I didn't take a tasting note, but it was absolutely superb.

Read More......

Yamazaki 50

Whiskies R Us has an interesting post on the 2011 bottling of Suntory's Yamazaki 50-year-old (tasted here by Nick Coldicott)

Read More......

The Owners Cask, Bar Hermit Private Stock Bourbon cask Yamazaki 1996.

Distillery
Yamazaki

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic:
"The Owners Cask, Bar Hermit Private Stock Bourbon cask Yamazaki 1996. 60 percent alcohol.
Nose: Smooth oak, biscuity, vanilla bean, apricot, nectarine.
Palate: Sweet spice, vanilla, sweet orange peel, apricot, vanilla, fresh cream, licorice, oak.
Finish: Again smooth oak, warming sweet spice, creamy, licorice, sweet orange and apricot.
Rating: 88/100." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

Read More......

The Owners Cask, Bar Hermit Private Stock, 1996 Yamazaki Sherry Butt

Distillery
Yamazaki

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic:

"Suntory The Owners Cask, Bar Hermit Private Stock, 1996 Yamazaki Sherry Butt. 58 percent alcohol.
Nose: Big sherry, mixed berries, sweet oak, red grapes, vanilla wafer.
Palate: Nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla, sherry, medium-weight dark chocolate, figs, berries, a hint of pine, and just enough tannins to balance the sweetness.
Finish: Clean, warming, spicy, with dark cherry, marzipan, blueberry, mint and again, just the right amount of oak and tannins.
General comment: One to spend 30 minutes nosing. Perfectly balanced and superb.
Rating: 94/100 Points." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

Read More......