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New Japanese SMWS Codes & Bottlings

Post by Stefan Van Eycken, Tokyo
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in the UK and Australia have just released some brand new Japanese bottlings. Not only that, three new distillery codes have been added to their list: G11 and G12 (Nikka Coffey Grain and Coffey Malt resp.) and G13 (Chita, i.e. Suntory’s grain distillery in Aichi prefecture).

The line-up consists of the following bottlings:

  • Yoichi: 116.20 "Fascinating complexity and finesse" (26yo, virgin oak puncheon)
  • Yamazaki: 119.13 "Fathoms deep" (11yo, 1st fill bourbon barrel)
  • Yamazaki: 119.14 "Raspberry imperial stout" (11yo, 1st fill bota corta)
  • Hakushu: 120.7 "Sweet, fragrant and satisfying"  (14yo, 1st fill bota corta)
  • Hakushu: 120.8 "A surge of sweet peat" (13yo, 2nd fill hogshead, peated)
  • Miyagikyo: 124.4 "Full of secret pleasures" (17yo, 1st fill sherry butt)
  • Miyagikyo: 124.5 "Juicy fruits and spicy oak" (23yo, 1st fill ex-bourbon hogshead)
  • Nikka Coffey Grain: G11.1 "Tongue tingling intensity!" (14yo, re-charred hogshead)
  • Nikka Coffey Malt: G12.1 "Oh so sweet" (11yo, re-charred hogshead)
  • Chita: G13.1 "A complete revelation" (4yo, virgin oak puncheon)

The Japanese chapter of the SMWS plans to launch these bottlings in style some time during the next year. Lucky SMWS members abroad may already be able to get their hands on some of these before Christmas.
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Comments

Jim said…
Thanks!
The Chita is available in the UK now. Released yesterday, now just 12 bottles left on their website.
James
November 28, 2014 at 3:00 PM
Jim said…
And the Yoichi is out in the UK too. Not sure about 26 years in virgin oak, though. Has anyone tried it?
November 28, 2014 at 3:48 PM
Tony said…
£300 for an indie Yoichi! More expensive even than the OB single casks via LMDW (325 Euro). And more than last year's 1984 Karuizawa! Looks like the infection continues to spread...
November 28, 2014 at 11:02 PM
Tony said…
As for nearly £100 for a 4 year old grain whisky... I think the 29 year old Clynelish for £119 from SMWS is looking fairly attractive in comparison...
November 28, 2014 at 11:04 PM
Anonymous said…
Hi, I am a SMWS member in Australia and cannot find any of these bottles on their website. Would you know when will they be released here?
December 3, 2014 at 2:42 PM
Stefan Van Eycken said…
Since we are based in Japan,we don't know about the workings of the Australian chapter of the SMWS. Probably best to inquire with them directly!
December 3, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Tony said…
Early reviews of all of these releases has been very positive! Forced me to get a Hakushu 120.7 and Coffey Malt 12.1. I still think the Yoichi and Chita are overpriced so have held off those (for now anyway...), and am waiting patiently for the Yamazakis.
December 8, 2014 at 10:47 AM
Tony said…
Oh, and the Miyagikyos of course!
December 8, 2014 at 10:49 AM
Tony said…
Although the Miyagi price seems likely to be very high as well (£275 for 124.5 I heard).
December 8, 2014 at 11:51 PM
Mark@ Malt Review said…
I tried these bottlings at the weekend and was very impressed. The Chita in particular is wonderful for just a few years. For me the best was the bota corta Hakushu, though - one of the darkest whiskies I've ever seen!
December 10, 2014 at 3:44 PM
Tony said…
Got a couple of the Yamazaki 119.14 I was waiting for, and couldn't resist the Miyagi 23 yr old even at that price as came so highly recommended. Still trying to hold off the 26 yr old Yoichi (and saw one so-so review) but may be just a matter of time...
December 11, 2014 at 9:16 AM
Cavalier said…
I didn't buy the Yoichi - tried a dram at the SMWS and found it good but not stunning - quite peat and smoke heavy and not as balanced as I was hoping for an old Yoichi. Unlike the Hakushu Bota Corta 120.7, which I tried and was a total stunner. Eventually got hold of a second bottle of this to enjoy at leisure... now cant wait for the 120.8 to reach London - if it ever does!
January 22, 2015 at 8:16 AM
Malta said…
Hakushu: 120.7 very impressive! Beautiful dark chocolate note, brown sugar, nice sherried toffee, good finish and length.
March 7, 2016 at 11:19 PM
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