The twentieth Anniversary Periods, at present two new cats from Japan

Shizuoka 3 yo 2017/2021 (50.4%, OB for Membership Qing, cask #2017-119, 31 bottles)
I am late to the social gathering however it appears everyone seems to be already whispering about Shizuoka… Color: gold. Nostril: I am undecided to what extent there’s scorching local weather concerned right here, however it’s mad to suppose that is solely 3 years previous. Massively syrupy, concentrated and resinous with many impressions of fir woods, delicate embrocations, valuable oils, sandalwood, coconut and this completely balanced and extremely fragrant spiciness. ‘Scented’ is a phrase that springs to thoughts. It is also very instantly a whisky that’s about distillate, not simply good wooden. With water: pine needles, fir resins, polished unique hardwood, chai tea and varied crystallised unique fruits. Splendidly fragrant and detailed. Mouth: jasmine flowers, putty, lime leaf, waxed sandalwood, mineral oils, camphor and varied sorts of embrocation and vapour rubs. Strays into natural liqueur territory with this candy, herbaceous high quality. With water: terrific improvement, turns into a lot fatter, wider and extra oils, waxes, unique spices, dried orange peel and camphor. Even a bit earthy and exhibiting wee notes of petrichor and salted almonds. End: good size, a bit buttery, extra camphor, extra of those tender wooden spice and pot pourri impressions. Feedback: I had it at 89 however water tipped it over the 90 line. Simply superbly sculpted distillate. However solely 31 bottles? Booo!
SGP: 562 – 90 factors.

Chichibu ‘London Version 2021’ (51.5%, OB, bourbon barrels, 1859 bottles)
I do know, Chichibu is not precisely a brand new child on the block anymore, in reality I might say it has turn into a extra established title by now. However it’s nonetheless a reputation that at all times looks like excellent news to me. This one is a vatting of seven barrels, all aged over 5 years, 4 of which beforehand held peated whisky – undecided whether or not that was peated Chichibu or one thing else. Color: pale gold. Nostril: the peat sings right away right here with candy, crisp, gently salty peat smoke. Numerous linens, chalk, cereals, putty and touches of linseed oil and even some impressions of smoked artichoke in olive oil. Character in abundance as soon as once more. With water: drier and smokier, a barely floral accented smoke that additionally invokes bonfire embers, scrunched newspapers in a coal fireside and pine wooden. Mouth: once more this candy and salty peaty smoke, within the mouth it is also creamy and fairly fatty with a dairy facet about it. Smoked olive oil, dried capers, a number of drops of lemon juice and notes of bandages and iodine. Actually fairly impressively peaty. With water: extra delicate now, there’s sandalwood, hessian, dried citrus fruits and extra impressions of camphor and smoked olive oil. Very rounded and mouth filling. End: lengthy, gently smoky, nonetheless fairly peaty and with this pretty, brilliant salinity and citrus observe within the aftertaste. Feedback: one other very sensible composition, the peat affect has been very deftly built-in I might say. Nice general stability and significantly good texture within the mouth.
SGP: 465 – 90 factors.