Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated Blended

Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated Blended

Official bottling
Single blend - Tōhoku
Pale gold

46% ABV

Dram

Nose: Smoke, peat, menthol, raisins, mint, malted grains, barley sugar, hints of yoghurt. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, warm, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Menthol, smoke, germolene, peat, honey, barley sugar, lemon zest, nutmeg. 
Finish: Medium. Apricots, menthol, honey, smoke, malted grains. 

Comments: 

I’d guess only the malt part of this is peated. There’s some quite sophisticated notes here - apricots, menthol, and plenty of malty sweetness too. A very pleasant dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky

Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky

Official bottling 
Single blend - Tōhoku
Golden
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peanuts, peat, leather, molasses, malted grains, toffee, hints of sandalwood, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sour bitter. Malted grains, molasses, tyre rubber, toffee, peat, leather, hints of smoke. 
Finish: Short. Diesel exhaust, peat, leather, molasses, tyre rubber, hints of sandalwood. 

Comments: 

Malty, with a gentle lick of smoke on the nose. On the tongue it gets a bit more sulphurous, before fading to a short sharp finish.

Verdict:

I like this.

Yuza 2023 Edition

Yuza 2023 Edition

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden
51% ABV
Bottle 

Nose: Malted grains, white grapes, peaches, magic marker, apricot jam, gunpowder, hints of sultanas. With water, gunpowder, magic marker, pears. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, mouth coating, volatile, warm.
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, apricot jam, pears, orange peel, black pepper, vanilla, honey, hints of lemon zest. With water, malted grains, apricot jam, pears, hints of sultanas. 
Finish: Long. Malted grains, lemon zest, apricot jam, vanilla. 

Comments: 

Extremely fruity, with a frisson of metallic sulphur on the nose. On the tongue it changes to pepper and malt, and loosens up with water. Water brings out more malt, apricots and pears.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Yuza Spring in Japan

Yuza Spring in Japan

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberries, cream, malted grains, cherry blossom, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, raspberries. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Malted grains, lemon zest, fresh cut grass, strawberries, cream, raspberries, meringue, hints of cherry blossom. 
Finish: Short. Malted grains, cherry blossom, raspberries, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Malty and floral, with a big whiff of cherry blossom. Of course, that what the label says! It’s complex and layered, lots of interesting notes to get to know. A very good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Miyagikyo Apple Brandy Wood Finish

Miyagikyo Apple Brandy Wood Finish

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Bright gold
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, cream, marshmallows, apple juice, cinnamon, honey, hints of toast. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, slippery, oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Apple juice, fresh baked bread, toast, cinnamon, smoke, honey, vanilla. 
Finish: Medium. Cinnamon, apple juice, smoke, honey, fresh baked bread. 

Comments: 

Excellent apple brandy finish, with some toasty smoke from the distillate. I also loved the sister bottle from Yoichi, although they taste very similar. Beautiful whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast 2022

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Golden 
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Photocopy paper, brass polish, lemon zest, malted grains, peaches, white grapes, jackfruit. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, warm, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Peaches, white grapes, gooseberries, malted grains, hoppy beer, lemon zest, hints of artificial grape flavour. 
Finish: Medium. White grapes, hoppy beer, malted grains, gooseberries, hints of artificial grape flavour. 

Comments: 

This whisky starts out feinty, but quickly progresses to fruity and malty flavours. It’s quite sweet, and has an excellent level of complexity, yet each flavour note is as clear as a bell.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Yuza 3yo 2018/2021 First Edition

Yuza 3yo 2018/2021 First Edition

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu 
Copper
61% ABV
Dram

Nose: Malted grains, honey, vanilla, lemon zest, hints of orange peel, hints of cream. With water, green tea, malted grains, honey, hints of yuzu. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, hot, mouth coating, slippery. 
Tasting:  Sour sweet. Green tea, lemon zest, bergamot, vanilla, malted grains, hints of photocopy paper. With water, honey, yuzu, malted grains, cinder toffee, pomeloes. 
Finish: Long. Green tea, fresh cut grass, lemon zest, vanilla, honey. 

Comments: 

Very citrusy, lots of floral notes (even bergamot) allied to a nice level of feinty malt. It opens up a lot with water, becoming even more citrusy. Very nice indeed.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Nikka Coffey Grain Woody and Mellow

Nikka Coffey Grain Woody and Mellow

Official bottling 
Single grain - East Honshu
Copper gold
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, oak chips, apple juice, malted grains, dunnage, hints of roast chicken. With water, toffee, honey, magic marker, oak chips. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, expands, airy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet sour. Vanilla, marshmallows, magic marker, tutti frutti, malted grains, dunnage, hints of oatcakes. With water, magic marker, toffee, malted grains, oak chips. 
Finish: Medium. Oatcakes, magic marker, malted grains, apple juice. 

Comments: 

I like this Nikka series where they simply label the bottle with what it tastes like. Simple and straightforward. Not quite so with this whisky. It’s got lots of lovely grain notes, estery and smooth, but it’s also got the woody vanilla and some dusty dunnage. Intriguing dram.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated 2021

Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated 2021

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber gold
48% ABV
Dram

Nose: Peat, caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla, leather, orange peel, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Fresh baked bread, milk chocolate, vanilla, leather, peat, sea salt, honey, raisins.  
Finish: Medium. Sea salt, honey, raisins, vanilla, milk chocolate. 

Comments: 

Smoky and chocolatey, this whisky is so smooth that for a moment one might mistake it for a mild-ish Ardbeg. But no, after that moment, the sweet milky flavours appear, this time with more than a hint of chocolate. With that clearly defined flavours that are a hallmark of Japanese whisky for me. Yum. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Miyagikyo Sherry Wood Finish (2018)

Miyagikyo Sherry Wood Finish (2018)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, black tea, molasses, raisins, hints of white grapes. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, cool, watery. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Winter melons, molasses, red grapes, black tea, hints of raisins. 
Finish: Medium. Red grapes, leather, raisins, black tea. 

Comments: 

I was surprised at how few flavour notes I recorded. Don't let that fool you. The flavours in this whisky are crisp, clear, and quite intense. I liked this much better than its Yoichi sister.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo Bourbon Wood Finish (2018)

Miyagikyo Bourbon Wood Finish (2018)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Roast ham, honey, chocolate, orange peel, soy sauce, hints of sandalwood, hints of thyme. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loose, watery, airy. 
Tasting:  Bitter sour. White grapes, chocolate, orange peel, vanilla, honey, hints of sandalwood. 
Finish: Short. White grapes, vanilla, orange peel, hints of leather. 

Comments: 

A sweet meaty nose, but that adds to tart bitterness on the tongue. But that's 'sweet' bitterness - that which comes from coffee and burnt sugar, not the herbal bitterness that comes from, say ginseng. Also fruity sour notes, fading through to an almost-peaty leathery finish. I liked this much better than its Yoichi sister.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo Rum Wood Finish (2017)

Miyagikyo Rum Wood Finish (2017)

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Molasses, honey, coconut cream, sugarcane, fresh cut grass, hints of raisins. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, loosens, watery, slippery. 
Tasting:  Bitter. Sugarcane, hay, Sichuan pepper, vanilla, brass polish, hints of leather, hints of peat. 
Finish: Long. Peat, Sichuan pepper, leather, hints of smoke. 

Comments: 

The influence of the rum cask here is very obvious - it practically tastes like rum, except for the gentle smoke and peat. There's also soapy, floral notes that are reminiscent of Sichuan pepper, bright herbal grassy notes, and perhaps something metallic on the tip of the tongue.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo Sherry and Sweet

Miyagikyo Sherry and Sweet

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Rose
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Toast, molasses, fig jam, orange blossom, honey, red grapes, hints of fried eggs. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, loosens, slightly astringent, tingly. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, toast, fig jam, red grapes, fried eggs, strawberries, hay. 
Finish: Long. Black tea, mint, strawberries, hay, hints of fried eggs. 

Comments: 

Wow. NAS, normally unavailable in the UK, but incredible. So sherry sweet, slightly suphuric, but chock full of those jammy fruity notes that characterise a great sherry bomb. This is so delicious.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo Single Malt

Miyagikyo Single Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Amber gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, cola nuts, raisins, soy sauce, hints of driftwood smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, watery, loose, static. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Green apples, peanuts, chocolate, honey, hints of cola nuts. 
Finish: Medium. Coffee, chocolate, honey, hints of cola nuts. 

Comments: 

I miss the age statement Miyagikyos. However, this NAS expression (all there is these days) is reasonably good. Tart and fragrant, with quite a lot of savouriness on the nose, but this dissolves into a welter of sweet fruit and chocolate on the tongue. Nice.

Verdict:

I like this.

SMWS 123.4 (Miyagikyo 17 yo 1996/2014)

SMWS 123.4 (Miyagikyo 17 yo 1996/2014)

2014, SMWS
Single malt - East Honshu
Mahogany
60% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red grapes, honey, raisins, dark chocolate, oak, sandalwood, hints of leather. With water, sweeter, more red grapes, cotton candy, more honey. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, loosens slightly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Black tea, sandalwood, soy sauce, raisins, leather, hints of honey. With water, more bitter, more astringent, black tea, orange peel, more red grapes. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, black tea, tobacco leaf, leather. 

Comments: 

Ooh, first fill sherry cask aged Japanese whisky. This is as delicious as it sounds, and slightly unusual, in that upon adding water, it is sweet on the nose but slightly bitter and mouth-puckering ont the tongue. I really enjoyed this one.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Nikka Coffey Grain

Nikka Coffey Grain

Official bottling
Single grain - East Honshu
Light gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Pears, magic marker, papayas, salt caramel, butterscotch, hints of bananas. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, watery around the edges. 
Tasting:  Sweet salty. Pears, raisins, bananas, vanilla, papayas, salt caramel, hints of lemon zest. 
Finish: Medium. Pears, raisins, bananas, lemon zest, hints of brown paper. 

Comments: 

Fragrant and salty, quite unlike other grain whiskies. Apparently this is mostly corn. Nice magic marker notes, and of course the requisite banana. Steaming heaps of papaya, tempered by slightly savoury salted caramel. Nice whisky, this. It's quite unassuming, and a brilliant decent-value daily drinking dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Nikka Coffey Malt

Nikka Coffey Malt

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Dark gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Apples, pears, honey, caramel, new rubber, hints of dried pineapples. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, fizzy, slightly astringent. 
Tasting: Sweet sour. Cola nuts, apples, dried pineapples, honey, tobacco leaf, hints of coffee. 
Finish: Short. Coffee, apples, dark chocolate, cola nuts. 

Comments: 

Nikka's coffey stills were initially located at Nishinomiya Distillery, and moved to Miyagikyo around 1999. This bottling was released in 2014, and I believe it's all distilled on the grounds of Miyagikyo. Coffey by name, coffee by nature - I couldn't believe my tastebuds. I first thought it was suggestibility, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't. This is deliciously sweet sour, ever so slightly astringent and bitter, suggesting those wonderful chocolatey, coffee notes.


Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo No Age Statement

Miyagikyo No Age Statement

Official bottling
Single malt - West Honshu
Dark gold
43% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, caramel, milk, lemon zest, cinnamon, hints of sandalwood.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens slightly, turns syrupy, slightly oily.
Tasting: Sour. Lemon zest, green apples, grated coconut, orange juice, white grapes, hints of sandalwood.
Finish: Medium. White grapes, green apples, cinnamon.

Comments:

Young Miyagikyo seems to hold fruity intense aromas. This is quite complex for its age, and also has a very engaging mouth feel. It's spicy as well, in the aromatic sense, laden with cinnamon and (dare I say it, Yamazaki-esque) sandalwood. This is really good whisky.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo 2002 Single Cask #101127

Miyagikyo 2002 Single Cask #101127

Official bottling
Single malt - East Honshu
Pale yellow
62% ABV
Dram

Nose: Red apples, green apples, orange peel, clementines, kiwi fruit, honey. With water, sweeter, more red apples, peaches, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, thickens, spicy, tingly.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Red apples, green apples, kiwi fruit, ginseng, chillies, honey, hints of oats. With water, sweeter, malted grains, peaches, vanilla, more red apples.
Finish: Medium. Green apples, ginseng, orange peel, kiwi fruit, hints of dark chocolate. With water, vanilla.

Comments:

Fruity and rich, with an alluring chilli heat on the tongue. But that's due to its high strength, once water is added the whisky calms down. It's sweeter and fruitier, and gentle too - much more like the Miyagikyo I know. I wouldn't describe Miyagikyo as 'feminine' (I know, some whisky writers do), but it's certainly a gentler, easier to drink single malt compared to, say, Yoichi or Yamazaki.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Miyagikyo 12 yo

Miyagikyo 12 yo

Official bottling 
Single malt - East Honshu
Green gold
45% ABV
Dram

Nose: Oak, vanilla, butterscotch, apples, sugarcane, melon, hints of burnt sugar. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, watery, expands in the mouth. 
Tasting: Bitter. Vanilla, butterscotch, apples, melon, hints of sugarcane, hints of burnt sugar. 
Finish: Long. Sugarcane, melon. 

Comments:

Bitter, surprisingly so, but cut with a sweet, slightly smoky undertone. A very gentle whisky, something I'd enjoy unwinding at the end of the day with.

Verdict:

I like this.