Tsunuki Yakushima Aging 5yo 2016/2021 (bottled for LMDW)

Tsunuki Yakushima Aging 5yo 2016/2021 (bottled for LMDW)

Official bottling
Single malt - Kyushu
Amber brown
61% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lemon zest, raisins, sandalwood, pears, dried apricots, malted grains, fresh baked bread. With water, raisins, winter melons, leather. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, volatile, evaporates, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Oak chips, sandalwood, malted grains, dried apricots, barley sugar, raisins, pears, hints of winter melons. With water, malted grains, raisins, barley sugar. 
Finish: Long. Dried apricots, leather, raisins, barley sugar hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Cask 2069. Floral and herbal, very intensely flavoured with a hot, volatile mouthfeel. No doubt it’s due to the high ANv. Water brings out cereally sweetness with more raisins too. Quite interesting and somewhat typical of the Yakushima aging style.

Verdict:

I like this.

Mars Tsunuki 7th Anniversary Local Barley

Mars Tsunuki 7th Anniversary Local Barley

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kyushu
Amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, apple juice, clay dust, cinnamon, hints of mint. With water, apple juice, malted grains, hints of menthol. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Malted grains, honey, apple juice, strawberry jam, hoppy beer, hints of magic marker, hints of clay dust. With water, apple juice, clay dust, hoppy beer. 
Finish: Medium. Apple juice, hoppy beer, honey, strawberry jam, hints of magic marker. 

Comments: 

Very malty appley dram, just the sort of whisky I like. It’s a little bit dusty, perhaps a sign of age in my experience. It’s quite estery on the finish too. Lovely stuff.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Mars Tsunuki 2022 Edition

Mars Tsunuki 2022 Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - Kyushu
Golden, hints of bronze
50% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, raisins, sandalwood, roast chicken, dried apricots, green tea, sea salt, lemon zest. With water, roast chicken, vanilla, dried apricots. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, cool, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Soy sauce, sandalwood, lemon zest, dried apricots, sultanas, hay, sea salt, malted grains, hints of gooseberries. With water, green tea, gooseberries, raisins, sandalwood, dark chocolate. 
Finish: Short. Green tea, malted grains, candle wax, roast chicken, dark chocolate. 

Comments: 

My first dram from the other Mars distillery. It’s wonderful, lots of spice and floral notes, allows to a meaty chicken note. Lots of chocolate and more spice appear with a drop of water. Marvellous.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.