Straightforward Whiskey & Spirits Reviews
Whiskey produced in the nation of Japan
Distilled/Owned by: Kirin
Region: Japan
50% ABV
Aged For: NAS
Chill Filtered: No
Color: Light Amber
Drank: Neat, in a glencairn
Nose: Banana, honey, oak, grains, cream, and spice
Feel: Medium to full bodied
Taste: Sweet and fruity with banana, coconut, vanilla, and cream
Finish: Warm, lasting, vanilla, honey, chocolate, almond, spices, and a touch of fruit
Thoughts: The heavy banana notes were a bit off-putting for me, but otherwise a standard fruity malt
Score: 75 out of 100
Price: $65 for 750ml
Distilled/Owned by: Sourced Teaspoon malt / Kaiyo
Region: Japan
43% ABV
Aged For: NAS, and aged at sea!
Mashbill: 100% malted barley
Cask Type: Mizaunara Oak
Chill Filtered: No
Color Added: Undisclosed
Color: Golden
Drank: Neat, in a glencairn
Nose: Herbal spice, earthy, weeds, oak, sugar, and salt
Feel:Medium body
Taste: Cream, vanilla, herbal, grass, and caramel
Finish: Caramel, vanilla, oak, herbal rye, malt, shorter length, light warmth
Thoughts: I actually think this is superior to the cask strength version, it tastes less like a young craft whisky and more like it’s own thing. Still doesn’t make it a good whisky though.
Score: 72 out of 100
Price: $100 for 750ml
Distilled/Owned by: Teaspoon Malt (Blend) / Kaiyo
Region: Japan
53% ABV
Aged For: NAS, aged on the ocean Jefferson’s style!
Mashbill: 100% malted barley
Cask Type: Mizunara Oak
Chill Filtered: No
Color Added: Undisclosed
Color: Bronze
Drank: Neat, in a glencairn
Nose: Sharp grains, herbs, floral notes, young smelling, like a craft whiskey, and almost rye like
Feel: Medium body
Taste: Nutmeg, pepper, floral, oolong tea, and rye notes
Finish: Warm and lasting, citrus, cinnamon, cedar, and pine resin
Thoughts: This reminded me more of a young craft rye, not a malt whiskey. Maybe that’s just the Mizunara that I don’t care for as I don’t have much experience with it, but still not my thing.
Score: 70 out of 100
Price: $50 for 500ml
Distilled/Owned by: Blended malt / Nikka
Region: Japan
43% ABV
Aged For: NAS
Mashbill: 100% malted barley
Cask Type: Undisclosed
Chill Filtered: Yes?
Color Added: Undisclosed
Color: Amber
Drank: Neat, in a glencairn
Nose: Honey, malt, gentle smoke, vanilla, toffee, chocolate, and raspberry
Feel: Medium body, oily
Taste: Vanilla, gentle oak, smoke, and blueberry crumble
Finish: Medium length and warmth, vanilla, smoke, and oak, with gentle berries
Thoughts: I liked this one much more than I thought I would, a good blend of smoke and fruit, without being an exact scotch replica.
Score: 83 out of 100
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
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
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
