Dram Review: Hakushu Sherry Cask Bottled in 2012

[48.0%・NAS・Bottled in 2012・Original Bottling・Limited Release of 4300 Bottles] Nose: Sticky figs and prunes prove captivating, roasted almonds, espresso and tannins smoothed over by the buttery leather. Palate & Finish: Liquor cured oranges bursting through with the bright but creamy Sherry influence, ample of wood and leather as well, hitting you right at the spot. Dark…

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Dram Review: ePower Chichibu Aged 6 Years IPA Cask Finish

[60.1%・6 Years Old・Distilled in 2011・Bottled in 2017・ePower Bottling・Cask No. 4662・Single Cask Release of 249 Bottles] Nose: Fascinating, aged lemon peels churned with gooey vanilla paste, orange sherbet and cotton candy on a flirty floral setting. Palate & Finish: Orange and grapefruit sherbet on the palate dressed with some Chinese style dried tangerine peels to give…

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Dram Review: SMWS 119.13 Yamazaki 山崎 “Fathoms Deep”

[60.2%・11 Years Old・Distilled in 2003 ・ Bottled in 2014 ・SMWS Bottling・Single Cask Release of 149 Bottles] Nose: Bold brushes of wood varnish and buttery toffee. Cloves and butterfly cookies with orange essence oil appearing late together with white peaches and popcorn seasoned with a knob of burnt butter. Palate & Finish: Rich flowing vanilla with…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu The Game (6th Edition)

[61.2%・Distilled in 1988・Bottled in 2014・Ichiro’s Malt & Shinanoya Bottling・Cask No. 192・ Limited Release of 471 Bottles] Nose: Mizunara wood with a slightly acidic tone, pine wood and hazelnuts integrates nicely with the malt to form a foundation that later on releases notes of beeswax and warm tea infused with lemon and honey, the wood becomes…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Whisk(e)y Matsuri 2020 Chichibu 9 Years Old (Cask No. 972)

[61.6%・9 Years Old・Distilled in 2010・ Bottled in 2019・Official Bottling・Cask No. 972・Single Cask of 215 Bottles] Nose: Fruit punch, candied strawberries and a wild floral note, but also slightly metallic and rather spirit driven. Palate & Finish: Ginger syrup with a whole heap of aggressive spices, quite a prominent malt spirit presence, with some background notes…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 神田 Kanda Bartender’s Choice 2013

[60.9%・Distilled in 2000・Bottled in 2013・13 Years Old ・Ichiro’s Malt Bottling・Cask No. 959・Single Cask Release of 303 Bottles] Nose: Mildly earthy with late harvest grapes, deep floral notes dispersing with elegance along with a suggestion of smoke and ash, brush of umami note developing in time. Palate & Finish: A concentrated sweetness from the grapes and…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Single Cask Peated (Cask No. 2077)

[61.8%・Distilled in 2012・Bottled in 2018・Official Bottling・Cask No. 2077・Single Cask Release of 356 Bottles] Nose: Metallic and peaty, seaweed and brine painting a rustic scene, ocean waves rushing towards a bon fire built on wet sand to create a salty and ashy vibe, followed by notes of green fruits and cigarette smoke. Palate & Finish: Syrupy…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Malt Dream Cask for Cask and Still

[61.8%・Distilled in 2009・Bottled in 2016・ 7 Years Old・Official Bottling・Cask No. MDC541・Single Cask Release of 193 Bottles] Nose: Rich vanilla from the get going but other than that a bit on the shy side initially but turns out to be quite a spicy number despite the floral honey sweetness, a prominent cereal note develops in time.…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Chibadaru Single Cask (Cask No. 286)

[61.9%・Distilled in 2009・Bottled in 2013・ 3 Years Old・Official Bottling・Cask No. 286・Single Cask Release of 160 Bottles] Nose: Spirit driven with notes of sour plums, lemon custard, green malt, matchsticks and honeyed nougat. Palate & Finish: Bold juicy delivery of honey, raspberry gelato and cherry marmalade with a sharp edge. It’s oily also with a rice…

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Dram Review: Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Peated (Cask No. 2088)

[63.2%・Distilled in 2012・Bottled in 2017・ 5 Years Old・Official Bottling・Cask No. 2088・Single Cask Release of 225 Bottles] Nose: Smoked leg ham and chimney soot, wee tropical with the spirit giving out a peanut butter creaminess. Palate & Finish: Rather sweet and gooey to the taste, watermelon jelly and syrupy tropical fruits followed by an immensely peated…

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