The Cask of Yamazaki 1979/2002

Review by Serge Valentin

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"The Cask of Yamazaki 1979/2002 (56%, OB, Japanese oak "Mizunara", cask # RF1013)
Colour: Full gold.
Nose: A rather beautiful attack on the nose, compact, as is often the case with ‘crafted’ Yamazakis, but with very distinct notes of ginger and soft curry added to a rather waxy and oily character (paraffin, linseed oil, olive oil.) With water: it got much more vegetal and grassy, which is a little curious, I must say. Whiffs of peat arising. No sweetness or fruitiness.
Mouth (neat): Hugely concentrated but not thick, which is quite an achievement. Loads of spices, crystallised oranges, ginger, cardamom and pepper. A lot of wood but it’s great wood, I must say (spices.) With water: rounder of course, and more ‘oriental’ as well. Turkish delights, lychees, like we found in other versions; orange squash, mint flavoured tea. Excellent now. Finish: rather long and a tad more resinous.
Comments: An ultra-dry nose and a rounder and fruitier palate, which is exactly the contrary of what happens with many old Scotch. Two whiskies in one!
SGP:552 – 91 points" (Serge`s scoring system is explained on this page.)