Category: Japanese Whiskey

Whiskey produced in the nation of Japan

The Chita

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Chita, Japanese Whiskey, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

The Chita

Price: $60 for 700ml

Distilled/Owned by: Chita / Beam Suntory

Region: Japan

43% ABV

Mashbill: Single Grain (Undisclosed)

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, wine, and sherry

Chill Filtered: Yes?

 

 

Color: White wine

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Confectionary sugar, grain, vanilla, oak, and a touch of fruit

Mouthfeel: Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Banana, honey, vanilla cream, and a bit of pepper

Finish: Sugar, grass, vanilla, and light citrus

Thoughts: Light, delicate, boring

Score: 75 out of 100

 

 

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Blend, Japanese Whiskey, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Nikka From The Barrel

Price: $40 for 500ml (Only available outside the U.S.A.)

Distilled/Owned by: Blend / Asahi Breweries

Region: Japan

51.4% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Chill Filtered : No?

Color Added: Unknown

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Toasted grains, vanilla, caramel, corn, alcohol, and floral undertones

Feel: Medium body

Taste: Ginger, white pepper, vanilla, oak, salted almonds

Finish: Medium, lasting honey, cream, oak, and spice

Thoughts: It’s sad that one of the best Japanese whiskies is one that isn’t even available for purchase in the States

Score: 84 out of 100

Kirin Fuji Sanroku 18 Oloroso Cask Finish

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Japanese Whiskey, Kirin, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Kirin 18 Oloroso

Not often seen outside of Japan, Kirin doesn’t have the exposure Suntory or Nikka has. A blended whisky, this was their 2016 limited edition release in Japan.

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned by: Kirin

Region: Japan

46% ABV

Aged For: 18 Years

Mashbill: Blended whiskey

Cask Type: Oloroso Sherry

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

Color: Auburn

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Sweet sherry, vanilla, chocolate, citrus, ginger, and lavender.

Taste: Almond, butterscotch, pomegranate, raisin, orange peel, and a touch of oak.

Finish: Warm and medium in length with sherry and vanilla sweetness.

Thoughts: A good sherried malt that leans toward the sweet side.

Score: 82 out of 100

Nikka Yoichi 15

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, Japanese Whiskey, World Whiskey, YoichiLeave a comment

Yoichi 15

Price: Discontinued

Distilled / Owned By: Yoichi / Nikka

Region: Japan

45% ABV

Aged For: 15 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: Yes

 

 

Color: Amber chestnut

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Salted Caramel, gentle smoke, oak, cocoa powder, almond, and malt.

Taste: Gentle smoke, mossy peat, white oak, anchovy, and suede.

Finish: Gentle warmth, decent length, and a combination of peat smoke and wood.

Thoughts: The favorite of the Nikka’s I have tried so far getting both a good flavor from the cask and base malt.

Score: 80 out of 100

Nikka Miyagikyo 12

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Japanese Whiskey, Miyagikyo, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Miyagiko 12

Price: Discontinued

Distilled/Owned By: Miyagikyo / Nikka

Region: Japan

45% ABV

Aged For: 12 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-sherry

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: Yes

 

 

Color: Amber chestnut, almost the same as the pure malt.

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: A bit of sherry wine, oak, milk chocolate, nectarine, lime, apple, and almond.

Taste: Sherry, apple jam, raisin, orange, sugary and winey.

Finish: Short, with even more fruit and wine.

Thoughts: Very heavy sherry cask influence on this one. The base malt doesn’t really push through enough though.

Score: 77 out of 100

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

On By MajorHopIn 70-74, Blend, Japanese Whiskey, World WhiskeyLeave a comment

Nikka Taketsuru pure malt

Price: $50 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned By: Yoichi & Miyagikyo / Nikka

Region: Japan

43% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Undisclosed, sherry casks used

Chill Filtered: Yes

Color Added: Undisclosed

 

 

Color: Amber Chestnut

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: White oak, caramel, floral, white wine, and plum

Taste: Watery, cardboard, vanilla, malt, potatoes, pine, and apples.

Finish: Gently warm, floral with hints of fruit.

Thoughts: A pretty standard light Japanese whiskey, not a very great flavor.

Score: 73 out of 100

Hakushu 18

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, Hakushu, Japanese WhiskeyLeave a comment

Hakushu 18

The 12 year so far has been my favorite Japanese whisky, so I had to try the 18 when I got the opportunity.

Price: $300 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Hakushu / Beam Suntory

Region: Japan

43% ABV

Aged For: 18 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Undisclosed

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

 

 

Color: Clear Gold

Nose: Pear, oak, very gentle smoke, and sprigs of mint.

Taste: A bit more smoke now, maybe there was wine cask somewhere because I get a bit of apple and raisin. Rose water?

Finish: Honey, heather, Japanese oak, and sea air.

Thoughts: It seems that the extra time in the barrel killed the fresh foresty taste I loved so much from the 12 year. Compared to the 12 year there’s more oak and barrel influence and less peat smoke, which to me is a negative.

Score: 75 out of 100