Japanese Whisky reviews

from a purchased sampleNose: Surprisingly quiet at first. Strawberries and cherries open the show, and eventually an elegant stream of 'dirty' sherry emerges, along with brown sugar paste simmering with…

Hakushu distillery is located in the Southern Japanese Alps and is owned by Suntory, one of the big two Japanese single malt distillers. The distillery started operating in 1973 on the 50th anniversary…

from purchased sampleNose: Cherries, strawberries, with a touch of rhubarb, stewed brown and purple fruit in maple syrupy goodness. Orange. Vanilla-y wood. Eye-rollingly good here. Kudos to me for trying…

from purchased sampleNose: Very fresh, acidic (green apples in honey). Extremely high quality vanilla, and varnish trending to sweet glue. Cake frosting. Very well integrated sweet and natural wood.…

Nose: Malty and lightly sherried (though obviously so). A little leather and cocoa/coffee. Touch of salt and red fruit. Cherries/strawberries. Lightly oxidized sherry quality; it's just very light.…

From a sampleNose: After it opens up, lovely oxidized sherry behind strawberry shortcake. Toffee and sandalwood, and a light herbal quality perhaps. Really nice, but a bit of a one note hit (even if it…