Japanese Live Tasting 31/01/09

[Willie JJ]

Here's one of Yamazaki from their website. Yama is the oldest distillery in Japan, founded in 1923. I'm not sure if this photo is from then but it looks pretty old:

[Yello to Mello]

Yamazaki 12, 43% sample from Bruichladdict.

Nose: floral with citrus...mostly lemon

Palate: Little heavier from a little spice, pears and banana

Finish: Medium. Oak with the soft fruits in the back

Rounded fruity profile making it delicate. It is now on sale near me at $50 from $70. $70 I wouldnt make another purchase, $50 is more of a deal and would get it rather than original Glenmorangie, but I got enough glemo these days. I think the next dram I will use my speigaleau glass rather then the glencairn....better for nosing floral malts.

[Willie JJ]

Ok, feeling somewhat refreshed I'll try the Karuizawa 1971. Thanks for the chance to try this Jimmy.

[Jimmy321]

Yoichi 20 52%

Nose, blackberries & jam
Taste, fruit cake, cinnamon, some oak followed by honey and spice.

Very nice!

[Mark C]

Ok, feeling somewhat refreshed I'll try the Karuizawa 1971. Thanks for the chance to try this Jimmy.

Well???

[ras mazunga]

Karuizawa cask 6878.
Thanks again for the mega sample Jimmy.
I think this is almost like cognac or armagnac. It is full of plums, raisins, raspberries, oranges, passionfruit, sharon, etc simmering on a peat fire. After 10 minutes I start to smell coffee with herbs: oregano and rosemary. Also I have to think about tea all the time.
Palate: wood, beeswax, fresh grounded black pepper, liquorice.
Finish: oranges, cedarwood, menthol, cherries. sofar long: 48 minutes.
Comment: My my best whisky ever.

[ras mazunga]

Back to Yamazaki 12 to look for the bananas.
]I agree they are in there. Also I'm smelling red bean paste.

[Mark C]

I went back to the Yamazaki 18yo and found it winey still. I think that's my least favourite of the three. The Karuizawa was stunning and the Yoichi was superb.

[Yello to Mello]

NIkka Yoichi 10, 45%

Nose: seaweed and peat

Palate: Peat at first, then an explosion of soft ripe fruits...mostly peach.

Finish: Medium to long. Peat came back

I gave away several samples and responses were comparing to talisker. This is a very complex malt and many things I havent found a word to describe it. To tell you the truth I think those finger foods between drams brought down my palate.

I got this $25 off clearing out....Ill have to pick up another one quick as they are few left and they might be gone forever.

[Willie JJ]

Here's my note for the old Karuizawa 1971:

Sample from Jimmy321; thanks Jimmy.

Colour: brown sherry/treacle
Nose: Oh God! This is one of the reasons why people would leave whisky in a cask for a ridiculously long time. Its all dark stewed fruits (prunes and mince pie filling) and sweet, burning apple wood. There are some things reminiscent of an old Ardbeg I had a wee while ago, (I think it was cask 1375), but there are serious differences too. This is much meatier, like an elderly peated Mortlach. Heaps of dried fruits delivered swiftly to your nostrils by the strength of this dram. There's leather there too. Old leather that hasn't been used for a while. Some linseed oil. And yet if you trap the vapour for a while the very first hit gives some floral elements. What a fantastic nose. I get the feeling that if you sat with it long enough it could take you anywhere you wanted to go. This has to be one of the best things I've ever nosed. If I was Jim Murray I might give it twenty four and seven eighths out of twenty five. Since its me I'll give it 25.
Palate: Old leather and furniture polish, but its holding it tightly. I think it may need just a droplet of water to open up. Trouble is I'm scared to try. Here goes: Ah that cracks it. Just a tiny drop releases the flavours. Again I'm reminded of Mortlach at its best; a rich, full bodied meatiness. Mmm ...
Finish: The finish is lovely. Its medium length rather than long, but it gives you the sensations of drying woodspice in a very gentle and charming way.

This dram has grown old, but in the most graceful way imaginable. The palate and finish don't really reach the heights of the nose, but how could they? Stuff like this makes a nonsense of points scales that give equal marks to different elements. Really if 90+ points makes a whisky worth trying then the nose on this is 95. But that's not the whole story; the palate and finish are fine too. They are just overshadowed by the opening. One of the most impressive things about this is the way that its handled the wood for 37 years. The whisky gives you things you would expect to find in an old dram without the intense wood spice. Its a thing of beauty and I'll always remember it. I have a little left in the sample bottle and I'll keep it for a wee while. I'd like to try this again after a gap.

Thanks again Jimmy. It takes a true hero to give something like this away.

[Jimmy321]

I am glad everyone enjoyed the Kara. 1971.

My taste buds are done for tonight so i will finish off this tasting on Sunday or Monday.

[ras mazunga]

Just finished my glass of Yamazaki 12. After 1 minute or so I start to taste the Karuiza again. Great, I hope to wake up in the morning with this taste in my mouth.

Nikka whisky from the barrel, very malty now. Still good!

[Willie JJ]

Yes I'm done too. I've run out of Japanese whisky, but I'm thinking that's something I need to work on. Great stuff.

Night all

[ras mazunga]

Goodnight!

[Mark C]

Great tasting last night. Thanks again to those who provided me with samples and those of you who joined in.

Cheers!

[Willie JJ]

Yes that was a good tasting and something of a revelation for me. I've tried Japanese whiskies in the past and thought they were good, but never really stellar. Karuizawa has changed all that. The 1992 was great but the 1971 was awesome. Now I'm looking out for it and I'll try and pick up two or three bottles over the course of the year to see if it continues to be as good. I must say I'm now very nervous about the decision they are reputed to have taken in the mid-nineties to stop using peated malt. Maybe it will work out, but I can't really see how you could improve on those two.

Thanks again to C57, Ras Mazunga and Jimmy321 for the samples. Great stuff guys.

[C57]

Well, I was out for most of the evening so I'll try some more tonight if I get a chance.

Willie - have you seen the 1971 anywhere - I've not tried it but it sounds like it's worth looking out for?

[Mark C]

I thought the '71 was sold out, but perhaps there's the odd bottle around. Probably not for long once everyone reads this thread

[The Craw]

Sorry I missed this last night folks (out with the missus) but will post back with views on the 3 or 4 Japanese I have. Thanks to Wille for a sample of the SMWS one.

Karuizawa '71 is now only available from LMDW/whisky.fr AFAIK - I was sorely tempted with this one for months last year (as I'm also a 71 vintage myself) but it was outwith my range.

[TheTross]

I've got a miniature Yamazaki 12yo and Ras sent me a couple of surprise samples that I want to try tonight (was out all last night, hence missed the tasting), but I've got a cold so don't know if my senses of smell and taste are up to scratch. I'll try a dram of something in a bit to see how I fare.

EDIT: Will have to give them a miss for a few days, I can't really smell or taste owt properly

The Karuizawa '71 is currently unavailable at LMDW, so perhaps it's now going to be extremely difficult to find a bottle.

[Jimmy321]

www.whiskystore.nl still have the Kara, 1971 on their price list.

Might be worth a try.

[Mark C]

Haha, I think a few people are going to be emailing them now!

A good few quotes last night so I've added a bunch to the random thingy at the top.

[C57]

No point, they're out of stock

[Willie JJ]

Sorry Nick I never noticed your question. I'm afraid I'm as clueless as everyone else as to where to find it. Sadly

[lagadrinker]

Hello guys, I just found my way on here finally. Its great to be part of another live tasting. Thanks to C57 for the sample making it possible for me to join in

Yamazaki 18 Yo 43% OB Glass: Spiegelau

Nose: Malted sherry, sulphur, cherry liqeur, thick pungent pear drops, touch of caramel.

Taste: Initially sour (?sulpur), then quickly sweetens to reveal sherry notes, and light cherry, small amount of smoke.

Finish: Very thin finish, leaves a slightly pleasent biscuit taste at the back of the mouth.

My first Japanese whisky, a pleasent medium bodied dram, it would be better without the sulpur taste.