Style: Sweet and Peppery
Nose:
A sweet and spicy opening. Incredible amount of white pepper scattered with herbal and minty side touches. Solid sweetness anchor nicely in the middle, caramelized bananas and mandarin citrus. Going slightly creamy, delicious vanilla marshmallows and white chocolate. Chalky oak slowly emerges towards the end. Massive and immensely enjoyable nose. Most impressive for a young grain.
Palate:
Herbal and hot spices on the first touch, but what follows is a similar but silkier entrance comparing to the nose. Peppermint overtone, dry grass and ginger slices. More white pepper as the sweetness kicks in, fat orange drop, green bananas plus a hint of juniper berries. Light, creamy texture, perhaps another block of white chocolate. Shaved timber surfaces with lingering herbal spices at the end.
Finish:
A rather soft and quick finish, lightly grassy, subtle vanilla candy and banana.
Thoughts:
What a sublime cask from this Japanese grain distillery. Rawness can be hardly detected at this very young age yet it is already so delicious. It feels this virgin oak cask has done wonders on the spirit, the sweetness combines splendidly with the herbal character to create a great profile. A complete revelation indeed, bravo!!
☆ [Recommended]
[58.3% • 2015 Bottled • 2009 Distilled • Independent Bottling • Aged 4 Years • 622 Bottles • Single Cask • Cask Strength • Non Coloured • Non Chill Filtered • Virgin Oak Puncheon Matured • *]
-Esmond
WhiskNick 