Kura The Whisky Rum Cask Finish

Kura the Whisky Rum Cask Finish

Kura the Whisky
Blended malt
Pale gold
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, smoke, peanuts, sour cream, orange peel, malted grains. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Peanuts, orange peel, cherries, vanilla, smoke, peat, malted grains. 
Finish: Short. Cherries, orange peel, raisins, walnuts. 

Comments: 

I was under the impression that this whisky (and its sibling which I tasted some months ago) was single malt / single blend by the awamori distillery Helios. However, a little bit more investigation revealed that it’s actually Scotch, perhaps blended with a little Japanese malt, and aged and finished in Japan. It’s quite pleasant - sweet and smoky, with cereal overtones - but I can’t help wondering what an awamori maker could bring to the world of whisky. It should be more interesting than this. 

Verdict:

I like this.

Kura the Whisky Pure Malt

Kura the Whisky Pure Malt

Official bottling
Blended malt
Golden bronze
40% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, peanuts, green walnuts, molasses, hints of palm sugar.  
Mouthfeel: Light body, cool, slightly tingly, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Peanuts, cookie dough, vanilla, peat, lemon juice, hints of smoke.
Finish: Short. Lemon juice, smoke, peat, peanuts, hints of green tea. 

Comments: 

The distillery is better known for its awamori, which I gather is a sort of distilled sake. The whisky is definitely interesting, it’s not very sweet, instead it’s quite bitter, and not very balanced. It feels like a bit of an experiment. 

Verdict:

Not bad.