Tag Archives: Japanese cask strength whisky

Nagahama Single Malt 3YO 2016-2020 Bourbon Cask #0007 61.3%abv

Posted on by
Reply

Nose: Sweet with lots of honey, vanilla, toffee chews, almonds. Tinned pears, apricot jam, white flowers, white grapes. There is also a decent amount of oak for a young whisky. Water brings out some brine, black olives & varnish.
Palate: A huge hit of wood spices! Surely a first fill cask. Quite mouth coating, not so much oiliness but butter/cream. Honey, toffee, tinned pears, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, Saville oranges, peanut brittle. Water brings out some sherbet zing. Medium bodied.
Finish: Nutmeg, leather, tobacco, baking spices, Danish pastry, oak. Water brings out a mineral element and white grape skins. Medium length.
Last Word: Really solid young whisky that basically says yep, we might be a new distillery, but we already know how to produce good whisky.

Rating: 85/100

Mars Single Malt Tsunuki The First 2016-17 3YO 59%abv

Posted on by
2

Nose: A malty heart! Stewed apples, red and green grapes, caramel, oak barrels, wood shavings. Rhubarb, nutmeg, raisins, pollin, vanilla and a touch of pepper.
Palate: Like the nose, big on the maltiness. Bran, nutmeg, stewed apples, Brazil Nuts, marzipan, coffee tannins, Pepper. Manuka honey, sparkling Pinot Noir. Water adds nouget and macadamias. Medium bodied and nicely balanced.
Finish: Marzipan, Brazil Nuts, nouget, pepper, oak tannins, cacao paste, red grapes, peanut butter. With water longer, more tangy, some sweet spice then fades on vanilla, nouget, creamy nuts & cool mints.
Last Word: Love it that Mars did not skimp and released this first bottling from the new distillery at cask strength. Great entry into the whisky scene and can’t see too many people not being satisfied.

Rating: 89/100

Yoichi Peaty & Salty NAS 55%abv

Posted on by
2

P1050306Nose: Caramel salted popcorn, earthy peat, salted peanuts, mushrooms, fishing trawler diesel exhaust, marmalade, blueberries, vanilla.
Palate: Very salty, possibly the saltiest whisky I’ve tasted and no problem for me as a saltoholic. Peanut brittle, salted caramel chocolate, mushrooms, the earthy peat, mint chocolate biscuits, cola, nutmeg, pepper, seaweed. Water brings out vanilla and toasted marshmallows. Where the nose is reasonably soft/subtle, the palate is big and bold.
Finish: Heavily salted pork crackling, earthy peat, peanuts, ash, toasted marshmallows, mint jelly, seawater.
Last Word: Pretty much gives you all it has from the get go so don’t expect this to have many hidden treasures. One thing is for sure, I wish this was Yoichi’s standard NAS single malt instead of what they are currently bottling.

Rating: 88.5/100