Whisky: Yuza 3 Year (2019) Cask 289 for Whisky Magazine

Country/Region: Japan

ABV: 61%

Cask: Sherry Butt

Age: 3 Years (Distilled 2019, Bottled 2022)

Nose: Baking spices, oak, hints of cocoa and pastries, roasted grains, tropical fruits, a kiss of salt.

Palate: Medium-bodied, youthful pepper, big fruits and balsamic, lacquered wood, licorice, tropical fruits, roasted grains and cocoa, caramel.

Finish: Medium-length with baking spices, wood, nectarines, and tart candied fruits.

Score: 7-8 (87)

Mental Image: Bakery Feast for the Eyes

Narrative & Notes: Surprisingly soft for the age, proof, and cask type, the aroma featured gentle baking spices, worn oak platters, and a dusting of cocoa over cream-filled pastry buns. Roasted grain lattes arrived with a kiss of salt and tropical fruits in the background as sugar-glazed kiwis, strawberries, and melon— visually stunning tarts in the bakery display case. Medium-bodied with a mild syrupiness and youthful peppery spirit, the flavors packed big fruits and balsamic upfront with richer notes of lacquered wood, licorice, and tart fruits developing more slowly. Roasted grain lattes and cocoa appeared in the background with more gooey caramel alongside candied cherries and chestnuts at the end.  The finish was medium-length with baking spices, wood, nectarines, and tart candied fruits.

Wow. This was well-balanced with beautiful richness, and nothing like the one-note sherry bomb that I expected to find. I have had a couple of other young and heavily sherried Japanese whiskies and, while none of them were bad, they were all about par for the course when it comes to young whisky bludgeoned by the cask. This had more going on with a lovely shift in flavors from the soft and inviting aroma to the more spirited and juicy-tart palate. The flavors were well-integrated and structured with a lovely transition from fruit and balsamic (one of my favorite notes) toward caramel and slightly tart candied fruits.

Overall, very impressive for the age— I need to try more Yuza.