Staying with the Japanese squad

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July 31, 2024

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Hello, that is one in all our (virtually) day by day tastings. Santé!


July 30, 2024

The Olympic Periods, 4, staying with the Japanese squad

We thought we would take pleasure in a pleasant and correct Japanese session, with a little bit of all the things, from nice classics to new or current distilleries.

There’s additionally a fragrance known as “Mizunara” by Parfum Satori. Nonetheless, it doesn’t appear to include any mizunara oak essence, however moderately albanum, rosemary, clary sage, lavender, cognac oil, juniper, cypress, patchouli, blue chamomile, labdanum, tulu balsam, and sandalwood. $175 for 50ml – that is dearer than Yamazaki! (Fragrantica).

Yoichi 10 yo (45%, OB, Japan, Edition 2022)

Yoichi 10 yo (45%, OB, Japan, Version 2022)

Sure, any excuse to revisit the current Yoichi 10, which has been extensively applauded for reintroducing a real age assertion after a seven-year drought, is welcome. We tasted a 2023 bottling, however there was one in 2022 as properly! Let’s now attempt the 2022 model, which I doubt is way completely different anyway, however for the sake of comparability, we’ll think about each. Color: pale gold (similar). Nostril: remarkably comparable, if not equivalent. Improbable bread dough notes, with hints of banana, a contact of chalk, drops of almond syrup (orgeat), a little bit of eucalyptus, then a touch of porridge with a touch of… calvados inside. Bear in mind, Nikka additionally produces pleasant calvados-like apple brandy. I discover the 2022 a tad fruitier and barely much less mentholated, but they’re as comparable because the Kessler sisters (nothing to do with the American whiskey model, I might suppose). Mouth: similar whisky, to be sincere. Just a little sawdust, inexperienced tea, banana pores and skin, apple peel, grapefruit, chalk once more… Then some earthiness, roots, maybe gentian, and that faint dirtiness (coal) that I had beforehand famous and which we take pleasure in. End: medium size, apples, mint, inexperienced tea, citrus, with a touch of sawdust within the aftertaste. Feedback: properly, I do marvel if these have been completely different batches. In a double-blind check with no $50K digital sniffer, I might say one might probably not inform them aside. Very, very advantageous whisky in any case.

SGP:551 – 88 factors.

Since we’re at Nikka’s…

The Blend of Nikka ‘Maltbase Selection’ (45%, OB, Japan, +/- 2005)

The Mix of Nikka ‘Maltbase Choice’ (45%, OB, Japan, +/- 2005)

This child was ‘blended with a matured malt base’. I am not fairly positive what meaning, maybe there was certainly some aged malt on this moderately previous mix, or possibly it is a pure malt or blended malt – which is probably going the case. Observe that there are variations not known as ‘Choice’, maybe extra frequent ones. Color: gold. Nostril: it is unbelievable – possibly not – how shut we’re to the Yoichi 10-year-old, besides this one is extra fragrant, leaning in the direction of all types of honeys and flowers, mango and papaya, one or two small contemporary mint leaves, a touch of contemporary carrot, a tiny little bit of coconut, and Earl Gray tea… It’s an impressive nostril. Mouth: as soon as once more, we’re very near the Yoichi, with a barely much less exact and maybe a contact spicier profile, as if it have been 5 years older. In concept, there needs to be some Miyagikyo in there, however in observe, it’s not detectable. At the very least, I can not sense it. Nonetheless, there is a little bit of coconut, contemporary wooden, and tea… End: of medium size, extra on that tea. Eucalyptus seems within the aftertaste. Feedback: a bit just like the sidekick to Yoichi, which is firmer and extra intense. Nonetheless excellent.

SGP:551 – 86 factors.

Kaiyo ‘Mizunara Oak Cask Strength’ (53%, OB, Japan, +/- 2024)

Kaiyo ‘Mizunara Oak Cask Power’ (53%, OB, Japan, +/- 2024)

Stated to be 9 years previous and matured in Japanese virgin mizunara. Earlier Kaiyos have been sourced and maybe not correctly ‘Japanese’, or maybe they have been, however issues could have modified. In any case, the mizunara right here was Japanese. I have to remind you that 100% Japanese origin doesn’t assure high quality, as we’ve tasted myriads of pseudo-Japanese whiskies, even from the big makers, that have been moderately wonderful. Nicely, sufficient PCness… Color: gold. Nostril: quite simple, very pure, excellent. The oak is a bit mentholated and barely hinting at maritime pine, holding its floor for now, with a nice contact of buds and seaweed. With water: the wooden essences generate a outstanding ‘viscosity’! The nostril stays very nice, nonetheless marked by mizunara oak, whereas hints of lemon and inexperienced apple peep by means of. Mouth (neat): the cask may be very current, giving a way of sucking on a cigar dipped in triple sec, then in pine bud liqueur. The worst half is, it’s not disagreeable. In any respect. With water: extra sweetness, maybe genepy liqueur. End: not very lengthy however balanced, with a contact of mint inexperienced tea and pine nuts. Feedback: I prefer it, it’s completely different, it stays balanced regardless of the near-absolute dominance of mizunara. I believe it has progressed properly because the Kaiyo mizunara at 43% from 5 – 6 years in the past.

SGP:471 – 83 factors.

Kaiyo 10 yo ‘The Rye’ (46%, OB, Japan, +/- 2024)

One other story of maturation, as this ‘whisky’ was aged in new mizunara, then in ex-rye from Knob Creek – therefore its rye designation – and even spent three months at sea for a ‘dynamic maturation’. Actually a whisky of maturation moderately than distillation. Color: gold. Nostril: one shouldn’t count on a rye explosion, however there are nonetheless ginger cookies, smoked paprika, rye bread, hints of cedarwood (cigar field), parsley, and dried wild (bear) garlic… Mouth: excellent! Clearly extra American than Japanese, evoking the Pacific Northwest USA and even British Columbia. It’s amusing! Beautiful fruity spices, pink peppercorns, notes of celeriac, a contact of contemporary turmeric, then these mizunara notes, pine buds, resins, and mint, chartreuse… It is actually very nice, the wooden is kind of pronounced however, on this case, it’s an asset. Good stability. End: medium size, spicy sweetness, ginger, watercress, gentle mustard… Feedback: nice maturation and building work, fairly ‘whisky 4.0’. So long as they don’t cancel Brora, I’m advantageous with that…

SGP:461 – 85 factors.

Akashi 4 yo ‘Calvados Cask Finish’ (62%, OB, Japan, Y’s Cask Tokyo, +/- 2023)

Akashi 4 yo ‘Calvados Cask End’ (62%, OB, Japan, Y’s Cask Tokyo, +/- 2023)

Malt from Eigashima distillery, aka White Oak. These malts are correctly Japanese, whereas many blends they do underneath the identical names should not. So, we’re really in Japan now (regardless of the calvados half, haha). Color: pale gold. Nostril: certainly, it does odor a bit like apple, however at 62% vol., all spirits odor like apple, don’t they? Anyway, it appears good, with wafts of camphor, however let’s not push our luck… With water: contemporary apple, contemporary apple, and contemporary apple. And maybe contemporary apple. A couple of touches of paraffin. Mouth (neat): what a combination! Full-on calvados and apples, skins, stems, seeds, and flesh, it’s all there. However water can change issues… With water: very good texture and at last, this beverage takes on one other dimension, with menthol, a rooty be aware, possibly turnip, a suety facet, then again to apple and pear compote. Let’s say 2/3 apple – 1/3 pear. End: medium size, properly balanced, and with a contact of greengages. I am keen on greengages however they’ve turn into laborious to seek out, besides in our whiskies. Lengthy stay whiskies! Feedback: there’s undoubtedly an experimental aspect to this mix. Personally, I prefer it quite a bit.

SGP:551 – 85 factors.

We’ll end with a Kanosuke, and we’ll come again tomorrow, okay?

Kanosuke 2019/2023 (61%, OB, for ePower, Japan, oloroso sherry, cask #19421, 281 bottles)

We love Kanosuke, they’ve swiftly established themselves among the many prime tier of real Japanese whiskies, however let’s not overlook that behind them lies the may of Diageo. So, it is form of ‘craft by large’ – however there is definitely nothing incorrect with that. Color: full gold. Nostril: sure, in fact, it is walnut stain and oil paint. As they are saying, it is oloroso from Oloroso & Oloroso’s. With water: sulphur, carbon mud, an previous fisherman’s web left deserted on the seashore (the web, not the fisherman) and an previous field of Cuban cigars. Mouth (neat): large, wealthy, liqueur-like and ultra-dry on the similar time (sure, that is potential). Pine needles, walnut wine, very previous dry sherry, masala, mustard sauce… With water: very tight, very sharp, very dry, bitter, austere, demanding… And we like it. An previous artichoke and bitter orange cordial, like our ancestors used to pour into their beers. End: lengthy, with notes of beef broth, pepper, dried meats, then all the things else we have already found. Feedback: I believe it’s not not possible that solely 10% of whisky fanatics will love this excessive type, however we’re positively a part of that 10%, with pleasure and willpower.

SGP:272 – 88 factors.

Present Medal Standing

(July 30, Up to date Each day)

Gold		Japan Yoichi 10 yo (45%, OB, Japan, Version 2022)
Silver		Japan Kanosuke 2019/2023 (61%, OB, for ePower, Japan, oloroso sherry, cask #19421, 281 bottles)
Bronze		UK Bimber ‘Wimbledon’ (56.6%, OB, England, The Spirit of the Underground, Vino de Naranja cask, cask #310/5, 298 bottles, 2024)

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