57°
Distillery : Shinshu - Japan
Sherry Hogshead
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Cask
Bottled in 2023
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 20 ppm
The third in a series of 4 bottlings specially conceived for Whisky Live Paris 2023, this one spent 6 years in a Sherry Hogshead in the warehouses on the island of Yakushima, where the climate is hot and humid. This contrasts with the distillery where it was made, located 800 metres above sea level, which is said to be the highest distillery in Japan. All in all, 251 bottles have been produced, sold primarily by La Maison du Whisky as part of the Collection New Vibrations. The label was designed by the artist Takahiro Kurashima.
Let's Taste It :
On the nose, a lovely mellow thickness, dates and dried figs, enhanced by pear cake, chocolate fondant, a few raspberries and gooseberries, floor wax, melting semi-salted butter. The peat is discreet, mineral and peppery, giving the whole a nice structure. On the palate, red fruits and spices, with hints of chocolate, liquorice, tobacco and ginger. Cereal touches. Long finish, not quite explosive, chocolate and earth come through, star anise, twigs, pretzels. Quite robust smoke, with liquorice and charcoal. Roasted chestnuts. A dash of vanilla.
In Short,
This is undoubtedly what this whisky was lacking to achieve excellence: a note of Sherry. In fact, the nose and palate are much more nuanced, and the finish more complex, though less powerful. However, the iodine character of the Yakushima warehouses and the mountainous hints of the Shinshu distillery are somewhat lost. Perhaps the ideal would be a blend of a few Bourbon casks and one or two Sherry casks distilled in Shinshu and aged in Yakushima. That could be perfect. For now, it's very pleasant, but the price is still far too high.
Score : 89
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Peter Rand - The Golden Experiment
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