Togouchi NAS

The Togouchi isn't a strictly Japanese whisky. From my understanding Chugoku-Jozo imports Scottish malt and Canadian grain and blends and ages them in Japan. Anyways let's try this 40% vol. no ages statement blend.

• Nose: Slightly biting, mandarin oranges, vanilla, cinnamon, relatively young and light
• Mouth: Mild, molasses, young grain, light bodied
• Finish: Molasses, hints of oak and cedar wood, oranges with clove, medium long

Comment: This is fairly pleasing with some complexity shimmering trough the overall light bodied whisky.

78 points

(2014)

Togouchi 18

The Togouchi 18 is a blend made by Chugoku-Jozo which from my understanding is more in the shochu producing business. Bottled at an unusual 72cl size and at 43% vol. I got a sample of this whisky as a part of a secret santa gift exchange :)
The spirit is imported from the USA (malt) and Canada (grain), but aged and blended in Japan. So strictly speaking this Blend isn't fully Japanese. A bit more about the Togouchi can be read on japanese-whisky.com.

• Nose: Fruity and fresh, some mild oak - very clean, lacquer paint (but not in a negative sense), caramelized sugar, grains, pepper
• Mouth: malt, almonds, some greens
• Finish: Vanilla, woods, sandalwood, sweet tobacco, overall very "Japanese", medium long, drying and ending in a peppery note

Comment: A very smooth and clean blend without miss-notes. The distinctively Japanese finish (some aspects of it are reminiscent of some older Yoichi) is the strong point here.

82 points

(2012)