Whisky : Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve Single Malt

Country/Region : Japan

ABV : 43%

Cask : Various (American & Mizunara Oak, Ex-Bordeaux & Sherry)

Nose : Honeysuckle and tropical fruits present a sweet floral aroma with hints of menthol lingering in the background.  

Palate : Sweet tropical fruits open up; guava juice, orange, passion fruit.  It does not have the twang of acidity that some tropical fruit drams have and it is more like concentrated fruit juice than biting into a ripe piece of fruit.  There is a bit of shortbread or baked pastry that adds cuts the juice just a bit.

Finish : Fades a bit quick leaving fruity sweetness.

Score : 5

Whisky : Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve Single Malt

Country/Region : Japan

ABV : 43%

Cask : American Oak

Nose : Menthol wafts out of the glass with a fruity orange zest sweetness and maybe a bit of winter melon rind behind it.  There is something a bit herbal as well, a bit like steeping red rooibos tea.

Palate : Far more fruity than I expected : green apples, pears, honeydew melon all come to mind.  It has a syrupy sweetness a bit like maple syrup.  I still get none of the peat or smoke that others seem to pick out in Hakushu.

Finish : Medium length finish with bits of matcha tea and mint lingering on the palate.

Score : 5

Whisky : The Chita Distiller’s Reserve Single Grain 

Country/Region : Japan

ABV : 43%

Cask : Various Ex-(Red Wine, Sherry, Bourbon)

Nose : Far more delicate and complex than I was expecting with notes of sweet creamed corn, willow bark, and subtle florals.

Palate : Creamy oatmeal sweetened with light brown sugar.  My wife found that it veered more towards crisp green apples.  As promised by the nose the body is very light and smooth, absent any harsh unrefined alcohol notes I feared I would find in a young grain whisky.  There are some odd savory notes similar to nori that pop up from time to time.

Finish : Medium length, pleasing sweet creamy corn fades across the palate.

Score : 5