Yoichi 20

Update 2008: Please note, that there has been some confusion about this malt's connection to the stunning victories by Japanese whiskies at the 2008 World Whisky Awards. I am trying to nail this all down conclusively, but until I get any further information I am saying that this was NOT the winner of the best single malt whisky in the world award. I believe that went to the 1987 20-year-old I mentioned here. The Yoichi 1987 looks like this:


I haven`t tried the standard range 20 year old yet.

Reviews by more reliable types
A 2006 bottling received an average score of 90/100 ("excellent") from 13 reviewers on the Maltmaniacs.org website.
Robert Karlsson, has rated it at 86/100 ("highly recommendable") and in Malt Maniacs 101, February 1, 2007, described it as excellent "with chocolates, toffee, some cardamon, raisin, figs, mature apples."
Serge Valentin, at Whiskyfun.com gave a score of 91/100 ("excellent") and pronounced it a "masterpiece". He said it had an unusual nose, with seaside smells mixed with tars and developing nutty, new wood, vanilla, leathery and spicy notes. In the mouth, it had a "bold, ample, spicy attack, with a great sourness (small apples, grape skin)." It was quite "acrid". Next came liquorice, varnish, tea, and a suggestion of a very pale, very dry sherry. The finish was fresh apples and back to the cinnamon.

(Please note the dates on reviews if they are provided. There may be significant variation between different years of a single malt brand)

Alcohol
52 per cent
Price (May 2007)
700 ml - 20,992 yen