Whisky: Shizuoka 5 Year (2018) Cask 2018-207 for 10th Anniversary of The Whiskyplus

Country/Region: Japan

ABV: 63.7%

Cask: Bourbon

Age: 5 Years (Distilled 4 Dec. 2018, Bottled 3 April 2024)

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Nose: Musty, meaty, cologne, blood sausage, tomato jam, herbal spice, wispy smoke, musk and resinous aromatics.

Palate: Medium-bodied, spirited and peppery, tobacco smoke, cologne, woody incense, seasoned salt, herbal spice, sandalwood.

Finish: Medium to long and peppery with a kiss of ash and roasted fruits (mostly tomato jam).

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Score: 7 (82)

Mental Image: Full Scottish Breakfast

Narrative & Notes: Musty and meaty, the aroma drifted from a Christmas roast to blood sausage and a serving a haggis. Subtle jammy fruits, including tomatoes, lingered in the background with fennel and herbal, earthy spices— roasted mushrooms. Wispy tobacco smoke lingered in the background with a bit of musk, mesquite, and frankincense; was the malt covering up a clandestine cigarette with some cologne? Medium-bodied and spirited on the palate, a wave of youthful pepper arrived with tobacco smoke and more subtle cologne-like spice and woody incense. The meatier side of the aroma was more subdued, only a hint of blood sausage and seasoned salt appeared, as herbal spearmint and sandalwood lingered at the end. The finish was medium to long and peppery with a kiss of ash and roasted fruits (okay, mostly tomato jam).

Wow— I have never had a Shizuoka like this! Considering the age, five years is a long time for Shizuoka, and alcohol content, this was fairly well-balanced, so long as you enjoy a peppery whisky. I found that element provided some nice balance for the smoke, meat, and cologne as the intriguingly unusual profile developed in the glass.