Hakushu "The Owner’s Cask" 1984

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Serge Valentin

Visit Serge`s website, the definitive Whiskyfun.com.

"Hakushu ‘The Owner’s Cask’ 1984/2005 (58%, OB, cask #WJ41700)
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Closer to the 1988 this time, with more peat. More grass, more leaves, more of everything. Also quite almondy. Whiffs of beer (hops), wet hay, moss and fern... And always these notes of motor oil. Quite some oak again but it’s better integrated than in most other unsherried ones. Nice wood and cola smoke too. I like this one. Faint hints of fish, kippers, sardines...
Mouth: Very good attack, with more complexity now. The spiciness got ‘wider’ (ginger – lots -, white pepper, aniseed, cloves, curcuma, green curry) and so did the grassiness (our beloved fresh walnuts, herbal teas, green tea...) Notes of rocket salad just like in the 1985. At the fruity department you’ll find tangerines, lemons (lots), citrons... Quite some olive oil as well. This one is very good.
Finish: long, still quite compact but with an integrated oakiness, getting just a tad drying at the very end (after a good thirty caudalies). 87 points." (Serge`s scoring system is explained on this page.)

Alcohol
58 per cent (abv)
Price700 ml - ?