[62.1%・4 Years Old・Distilled in 2010・Bottled in 2014・Official Bottling・Cask No. 657・Single Cask Release of 227 Bottles]
This expression has been made with floor malted optic barley.
Nose:
On the nose, we have some citrus nicely propping up the bourbon cask influence with its creamy and velvety char up; it’s also floral in a rustic sense but somewhat boozy.. the high alcohol content gives a sharp edge to the dram. In time, we have a stickily sweet popcorn note.
Palate & Finish:
The blend of citrus marmalade and salted caramel is perhaps quite heavily handed initially, but the delivery carries a certain dose of umami and it does open up into folded soft caramel and well churned butter. The wood chimes harmoniously before the spices come raining down, a wee pear sweet note does sip to the surface on the back palate, charming but rather inferred.
The finishing proves to be quite a malty affair, with just a hint of menthol evaporating away together with some liquorice as well..
Thoughts:
Unmistakably Chichibu, though it’s structurally fine taking into account of the house style, I am not sure if this is one of the standouts after so many spectacular Chichibu expressions in the past 3 to 4 years..
✓ [Recommended if you like the style/ distillery]
-Nicholas
WhiskNick 