Whisky : Ohishi Brandy Cask; Fujioka Cask Selection

Country/Region : Japan/Kyushu Rice Whisky

ABV : 41.7%

Cask : Ex-Brandy (Cask #295)

Tasting : Neat in a Tulip Glass @ Fujioka Craft Spirits Tasting

Nose : It’s hard to miss the rich sweet brandy influence on the nose. Behind the brandy is mild notes of leather and very faint smoke. Bubble gum wrappers and pancake syrup hint at the sweetness level of the liquid.

Palate : Artificial bubble gum and supermarket tub cupcake frosting are carried by a strikingly good body. There are hints of savory BBQ shrimp, but they are largely drowned out by the artificial flavor of chewy taffy and nail polish remover.

Finish : Medium length with subtle spice and bubble gum.

Score : 2

Whisky : Ohishi Sherry Cask; Fujioka Cask Selection

Country/Region : Japan/Kyushu Rice Whisky

ABV : 40.8%

Cask : Ex-Sherry (Cask #1021)

Tasting : Neat in a Tulip Glass @ Fujioka Craft Spirits Tasting

Nose : Bread-dough, oatmeal, honey-wheat toast, and fruit cake make for a yeasty malty inviting nose. 

Palate : Artificial cherry cough syrup and chocolate cake are an odd opening. More pleasing notes of strawberry and cherry cola occasionally emerge. The sticky artificial sweetness of store bought cake frosting make this a difficult one to sip on.

Finish : Medium length with a good body and confectioner sugar.

Score : 2

Something Better : Vicomte 8 Year (more tropical fruit, candy, but weaker body)

Something Similar : Green Spot Pot Still (more sweet syrup, less artificial candy)

Something Worse : Brenne Single Malt (more artificial sweet banana/cherry notes)

Notes : If you are reading this, I assume you have either tried Ohishi, seen it around, or are currently staring at a bottle hoping the internet can tell you whether or not to pull the trigger and buy it.

Ohishi deserves credit during an era of slapping kanji on any old juice, inflating the price, and selling it as “Japanese Whisky”. Ohishi is legitimately distilled and bottled in Japan and both the core range and single cask picks are sold at an affordable price point. Despite those virtues, I had never been terribly interested in trying it. Ohishi is a grain whisky, produced using rice and yeast typically found in Sake and Shochu production (two other distilled spirits for which Ohishi is known).

I tried these drams at a local Craft Spirits Tasting event that featured a number of store pick single casks and blends. I was surprised by the full body and decent finish of the Ohishi cask picks. I am not sure if they are cask strength. Though ~40% is low for whisky, in order to maintain the subtle flavors from rice distillate, you don’t want to run it through the still too many times. I would hazard its possible this is distilled right around 40%, though it is not labeled as ‘cask strength’ and certainly could have been adjusted using the reputedly pure Kuma River.

While I was impressed with the body and finish, I was not a fan of the flavor profile. I had pretty low expectations, especially for the Brandy Cask. I’ve found Brandy and Cognac aging often seems to impart what I pick up as artificial candy flavors. I’m sure there is some virtue in blending those in a cocktail, but as a sipper, I really could not enjoy the cloying sweetness and did not find the Ohishi Cask Picks to my taste.

These are worth a try if you like seeing what sort of flavor profiles you can get from different single grain whiskies and casks. Or, you are just in the mood to try the road a little less traveled.