Overview
It must be more than 10 years since my good friend Ian bought me this for Christmas. At the time I was letting everyone have a taste… “Have you tried Japanese whiskey?” was the opening dialogue. Followed by lots of “oooh!” and “aaaah!” noises from the grateful recipient.
Nowadays I have this bottle hidden at the back of the drinks cabinet and I’m quite loathed too review it because it will alert friends that I still have a quarter of a bottle left.
Back in 2000-and-something when I got this, Yamazaki was quite unheard of in the UK, but in the intervening 10 or so years, they’ve won more awards than you can shake a stick at.
I knew it was special at the time. but now it’s discontinued and currently retailing for around £250, it’s staying hidden.
| Colour | Nose | Palate | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawny syrup. | Fruity, floral and rich. Sugary and sweet, almost chemically so, like a packet of Love Hearts. | Very strong vanilla, cream and cream soda with a slightly oily mouthfeel. | Good length with honey and oak. |
Conclusion
I can see how this isn’t to everyone’s taste. It’s a long way from traditional “scotch” but the fact that this has gone from “unheard of” to “retailing in Tescos” to “indignant customers complaining that they couldn’t get one of the just 198 bottles that were sent to Selfridges and Harvey Nicks” tells it’s own story.
I really love this whiskey. I kind of have to be “in the mood” for it, but that’s just because I’ve been brought up predominantly on Scotch. If you see any Yamazaki whiskey at a bar or drinks menu, I’d definitely recommend you try some.
84%
Rating
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