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Dwelling
Hundreds of tastings,
all of the music,
all of the rambligs
and all of the enjoyable
(hopefully!)
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| Hello, that is one in every of our (virtually) day by day tastings. Santé! |
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April 21, 2022
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Fairly. I imply, not all the time completely in Japan. Or say, ‘not solely in Japan’, as soon as once more some whiskies have merely been Japanised.
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Togouchi ‘Pure Malt’ (40%, OB, +/-2021) 
Tja, pure malt. So many individuals nonetheless consider that that wording is equal to single malt. That is, naturally, a mix of malts from varied international locations (Canada, Scotland…) that was launched final 12 months. It stays legally a ‘Japanese whisky’, however technically and, ought to we add, ethically, it isn’t. Color: pale white wine. Nostril: there’s most likely just a little peated Scotch, fairly good I’ve to say, and moderately little candy/vanilla-ed Canadian. Nice notes of greengages, mirabelles, apples and porridge and dough. I am undecided we will cry foul. Mouth: reminds a little bit of Nikka’s ‘pure malt’ little bottles, I feel the white, besides that that is lighter, ashier, just a little skinny, however as soon as once more, not disagreeable. I might categorise it a peaty whisky. End: brief and saltier. Extra ashes as nicely. One might consider there may be some peated Bunnahabhain in there, if that rings a bell. Feedback: past the nasty – however authorized certainly – use of the appellation ‘Japanese whisky’, I might say I am moderately positively stunned with what’s within the glass. It’s stated to be partly ex-sherry, however I didn’t discover one single signal of any sherry aromas or flavours.
SGP:354 – 82 factors. |
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Maintain on, there’s additionally a single malt…
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Togouchi ‘Single Malt’ (43%, OB, Sakurao Distillery, +/-2021) 
Except I am off the mark, that is real Japanese 3 years previous malt whisky distilled in their very own Distillery this time, which is situated within the Hiroshima prefecture. Glad to attempt it. Color: pale white wine. Nostril: this one’s unpeated, fermentary, ‘craft’, fruity and with some vanilla. Some recent fruitcake, ultra-fresh kougelhopf (nonetheless alive, as we generally say right here in Alsace when it is from the morning), porridge and pancakes. Additionally apple compote and certainly vanilla. Mouth: good drop! There’s just a little oak, tea, cocoa powder… Now it will are likely to develop into just a little too oaky for me, which occurs typically while you carry these new makes right down to fairly low strengths, they get teaish and tannic. End: brief, tannic. Feedback: it’s a very younger drop, let’s stay caring and gracious (yeah). Not Mars or Shizuoka but.
SGP:451 – 79 factors. |
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Sakurao ‘Single Malt’ (43%, OB, 2021) 
Most presumably the identical juice underneath the correct identify of the Distillery, this time matured for 3 years in bourbon, with a ending in mizunara oak. Let’s simply hope the 43% vol. can have been potent sufficient to maintain any extreme oak at bay. Color: straw. Nostril: very completely different, this time coastal and fewer vanilla-ed, with yellow melons ala Bruichladdich and a few lime tea, doughs, recent eucalyptus leaves rubbed between your fingers, maybe wee whiffs of tomato leaves… Is that this the mizunara? Mouth: spicier, with some form of medicinal caraway cordial (maybe) and notes of myrtle, sorb, elderberry eau-de-vie… Fairly some white pepper too, that is the oak. The Togouchi was gentler and simpler, whereas that is each just a little rougher, extra attention-grabbing, extra singular and extra… maintain on, extra good, in my e book. End: medium, with just a little grapefruit, granny smith and a few form of pine smoke. Feedback: I discover this superb; we would simply want extra energy (simply to higher deal with the oakiness, not energy for energy).
SGP:462 – 84 factors. |
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Togouchi ‘Cask Energy 1st Launch’ (52%, OB, 2021)
That is, I consider, correct Sakurao too. All these Togouchis are very extensively obtainable in France. Color: pale white wine. Nostril: maybe just a little closed (that’ll educate you, S.). Sawdust and vanilla, apples… apples… apples… With water: very clear barley, bananas and custard. And apples. Mouth (neat): candy, with jelly beans, marshmallows, sugarcane syrup, pear and lemon drops, mirabelle jam… With water: it is just a little exhausting after the Sakurao, which was moderately extra complicated, however this elementary profile on ripe apples and simply cornflakes coated with honey can not not work. End: medium, cakier. Some apple liqueur within the aftertaste (the Spaniards are king) and a few grassier spices. Feedback: akin to some good very younger ex-refill Speysider. Say, wait, Miltonduff (simply an instance).
SGP:441 – 83 factors. |
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Let’s transfer on to pastures new…
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Yamazakura Asaka ‘Single Cask’ (46%, OB, bourbon, cask #18109, +/-2021) 
A 3 years previous for, apparently, the French market. Not too positive concerning the 140€ they’re asking for it, for that worth you get some 40 years previous armagnac of super-high high quality. That is from Sasanokawa Shuzo, within the Fukushima prefecture. We have had some junk Yamazakuras previously however I consider these have been simply low-cost whiskies sourced from overseas, typically the identical story with J-Whisky, it may be just a little lengthy to recover from all that. Color: straw. Nostril: weissbeer, recent baguette, wholegrain bread, touches of violet and orange blossom, Greek yoghurt, porridge… Mouth: good, ‘Japanese’, with oranges and citrusy spices, orange-flavoured yoghurt, polenta… As standard with these barely doped-up kids, the oak turns into just a little dominant however it’s all remaining underneath management. Delicate paprika, nutmeg, bitter oranges, peppermint… End: medium, malty, vanilla-ed, with some ex-bourbon marmalade within the aftertaste, in addition to tropical fruits and lovage. Love lovage (you are good in the present day, S. – LOL). Feedback: superb. Many new distilleries everywhere in the world are making this type as of late and I feel we shan’t complain.
GP:551 – 86 factors. |
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Let’s watch out, there’s Asaka, Akashi, Akkeshi… Not the identical factor!
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Akkeshi ‘Usui 2021’ (48%, OB) 
That is blended, the label is gorgeous and the worth insane (175€). The half of it appears to be stemming from Akkeshi, the remainder having been sourced from overseas. So, that is ‘semi-fake’ Japanese whisky by our personal requirements and I can not see what would justify this ridiculous worth. Good, needed to get that off my chest earlier than making an attempt it, as I am positive it is wonderful… Color: gentle gold. Nostril: new wellies, bicycle interior tube, teak oil, smoked bacon, gentle coal tar, then Swiss cheese (gruyere) and fermenting plums. Very regrettably, that is an superior nostril. Hate to jot down this, given the set-up and the worth. Mouth: I stop, I hand over. Smoked eucalyptus, kippers, pure rubber, tobacco, salt, cigar-smoked salmon (that is simple to make with an empty field of cigars into which you’ve got drilled a gap the scale of your corona), amontillado, walnuts… End: very lengthy, salty, rubbery, tarry, excellent. Feedback: a kind of spirits that I hate to like. Very long time not seen my shrink. This one (the whisky, not the shrink) has acquired one thing of that make they produce very near the stays of Dunyvaig Citadel.
SGP:465 – 89 factors. |
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Akashi ‘Closely Peated’ (50%, OB, 1st fill bourbon barrel, +/-2021)
Made at Eigashima from malt that had been peated to 50ppm. This can be a 3 years previous. The worth is that of a Mercedes-Benz Diesel, however it’s true that the Mercedes-Benz Diesel have develop into actually low-cost. Good vehicles although. Color: like gold. Nostril: what, smoked chocolate and butterscotch? What’s this trick? And plenty of oils, just a little sugarcane juice, praline, new boots, correct Van Houten scorching chocolate, gianduja… For as soon as we can’t even add any waters, that might be superfluous. Mouth: maybe just a little heavy on the tars, oils and bitters. This time we’ll add just a little water… With water: the youth feels, it’s too younger and the tars too loud for me. End: lengthy, tarry, rubbery. Feedback: licking an ashtray and the rear tyres of a badly-tuned Porsche after Monaco (yeah, proper, after all). Critically, had it at 89 for some time after which it misplaced one level each ten seconds. For me, the smoke’s too huge and too, say undigested. However I suppose we’ll attempt these batches once more round 2030 (relying on what Putin does within the meantime).
SGP:377 – 83 factors. |
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Mars 8 yo ‘Asagi Madara’ (48%, OB, 2020)
I’ve given up, I do not get a lot about how they identify their whiskies at Mars’s, all I do know is that I am discovering them wonderful. Now this can be a mix, and but it is licensed ‘all Japanese’. No whiskies from Outer-Mongolia or Venezuela (or Canada) in there. Color: gold. Nostril: wooden mud, flour, tapioca, milk chocolate, barley, maize and bread crumble. I’ve virtually added wet-noodle, as I am discovering this just a little skinny and too grainy. Mouth: good however gentle, with just a little espresso, praline, grain whisky, Canadian Membership, café latte, and moderately numerous oak. End: brief, skinny, on caramel and candy maize, plus just a little preserved pineapple. Feedback: disappointing. I imply, the flavours have been very okay, however the physique’s too skinny. Completely un-Mars in my e book – love Mars!
SGP:630 – 77 factors. |
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Hatozaki ‘Pure Malt’ (46%, OB, +/-2021)
I consider that is one other fantasy Japanese malt. Too many kanjis to be completely trustworthy, ha. It’s from Akashi, however it isn’t Akashi. Certainly, studying Wittgenstein is far simpler than making an attempt to grasp ‘Japanese’ whisky. Color: pale white wine. Nostril: a light-weight, fruity composition, between fruity and candy cider and custard. A tiny contact of tar. Nobody will probably be in opposition to this effective little drop that, what’s extra, hasn’t been bottled at some awful and meagre 40% vol. Mouth: trustworthy however skinny, getting oaky, dropping steam, falling flat. End: not unhealthy however not fairly, brief, just a little beerish and ueber-drying. Mashed eggplants within the aftertaste (form of). Feedback: moderately trustworthy and form of loyal.
SGP:541 – 77 factors. |
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We have to perceive that while you promote a NAS Scotch blended malt as a Scotch, that might be £35, while while you promote it as a Japanese (with kanjis, Mount Fuji, samurais et al), that is going to be £75. However there are prices too I suppose, ha… Now let’s rapidly have a final one, for the flag!…
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Shizuoka 2019/2019 New Make (63.8%, OB, Japan) 
Unpeated and from the Karuizawa nonetheless, having used Pinnacle yeast. Distilled and bottled on the exact same day (Sept 12, 2019), you can not do them any brisker than this. Color: completely white. Nostril: masterful asparagus and white pot-still rum. Superb distillate, nice fatness, and naturally, simply zero wooden affect, as I suppose this got here straight from the receiver. With water: white rum agricole, straight from the column, as they are saying. Olives! Mouth (neat): fabtastic rotting pears and just a little saccharose, with a drop of rose essence. With water: luminous, fabulous, and extra proof that nice whiskies solely want wooden to catch their age rely – and oxygen. Olives and suet. End: earthy pears, apricots, cherries… The fruits are beginning to sing. What a make! Some varnish within the aftertaste, that is humorous too, as varnish would often seem upfront, by no means within the end. Feedback: I will not rating this since it’s pure new make, however we might be very excessive… I can not wait to style the primary official whiskies by Shizuoka (I do know, previous information already), having stated that there are such a lot of new whiskies round, we’re moderately spoilt for selection and we don’t actually ‘want’ Shozaokiu. Maintain on, what was the identify once more?
SGP:761 – (none) factors.
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