Yamazaki Limited Edition 2015

Now that the Limited Edition seems to be a yearly thing and I really enjoyed the 2014 one it's time to taste the 2015. Bottled again at 43% vol with no age statement.

• Nose: Sweet mango, strawberries, sweet oak, honey, apples, 
• Mouth: Oily, green grass and malt, tropical fruit juice
• Finish: Very light smoke and very very light peat, fruity, chestnut cream, lingering oak, rather long

Comment: A lovely summer dram, fruity and light but with depth. Some aspects feel like old whisky while others feel young and fresh... I guess that reflects a bit the whisky used in this NAS.

87 points

Yamazaki Limited Edition 2014

The Yamazaki Limited Edition 2014, so far released exclusively in Japan replaced the other Yamazaki NAS special releases for 2014. This one was aged in Sherry, Port and American oak cast with ages up to 20 years or so.
Bottled with 43% vol. and sold for a for Japanese whisky nowadays very reasonably price of around 65€.

• Nose: Honey melon, red berries, Katjes Tropenfrüchte - gummies with tropical fruit flavor, green grass, Sherry (PX'ish)
• Nose: Light oak, grassy, malt and berries
• Finish: Malt, fruits, sugar syrup, sherry, a moderate amount of oak, not overly long

Comment: A lovely NAS Yamazaki, rather fruity and well integrated all around. Maybe here and there a hint of harshness of some younger whisky shimmers trough. The for Yamazaki very unusual Port cask is very well integrated. While it works very well at 43% I think a little bit more wouldn't have harmed.

87 points

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)

Nikka Coffey Malt

Nikka Coffey Malt - tasted this one together with the Nikka Coffey Grain. Distilled in the Miyagikyo distillery. 0.7l bottle with 45% vol and no age statement.

• Nose: Glue, malty, sweet acorn, candied apple, hints of smoke
• Mouth: Oily, creamy, light malt
• Finish: A bit alcohol, light caramel and malt, glue again, a little bit of Miyagikyo profile in the very end.

Comment: Definitely not the usual Miyagikyo profile. It needs some time to breath for the nose to open up. Like the Coffey Grain the mouth feel has a very unique creamy mouth feel. Overall the malt wasn't too exciting to me though. 

78 points

(2014)

Nikka Coffey Grain

To quote the Nikka website: Nikka operates two Coffey stills (named after its inventor Aeneas Coffey) within the Miyagikyo distillery for the elaboration of its grain whiskies. Imported from Scotland in 1963, these old stills yield a distillate with more flavour and depth than modern column stills, imparting a distinct character that defines the house blends. These two unique bottlings showcase the innovative spirit of Nikka.

Bottled in 0,7l bottles at 45% vol. with no age statement. Tasted this together with the Nikka Coffey Malt.

• Nose: Some biting alcohol, light bodied, a little bit raisins, sharp
• Mouth: Creamy or milky..., very grainy taste, light sugar water
• Finish: Alcohol, grain, vodka, light oak influences, short

Comment: I did not enjoy this very much, a strong alcohol flavor more in the vein of new-make. Nikka has much better offerings in that price-range.

73 points

(2014)

Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve

So I finally got around to taste the more or less recently released Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve. This NAS bottling replaced the 10 year old Yamazaki in the lineup. Bottled at 43% vol.

• Nose: Not overly sweet - some light sugar water and flower nectar, unripe apricot, a tiny little bit alcohol, grain, fresh sourdough bread,
• Mouth: Creamy and moderately oily, not too much body, a bit hay and meadow flowers maybe
• Finish: Slightly sour yellow fruits, very fresh, hints of oak, green vegetables ...celery sticks, spinach, sugar water

Comment: A lovely light and easy to drink whisky. Ideal for to enjoy during a mild summer night - too bad it's winter right now. Comparing it directly to the 12yo Yamazaki - the next step up in the lineup the 12 year old is much more full bodied in the mouth with more oak in the profile and much rounder as a whole package. But it's a worthwhile replacement for the discontinued Yamazaki 10yo.

81 points

(2014)

Nikka Pure Malt Red

The red version of the Nikka Pure Malt series with the White, Black and Red. The Red is said to have a high Miyagikyo content. Bottled at 43 % vol. in 0.5L bottles.

• Nose: Some smoke and sherry, honey, honeyed herbal tea, damp moss
• Mouth: Mild, oak, brown leaves (like the ones that lay around the streets in autumn), some vanilla
• Finish: Mild, light smoke and sherry, sweet

Comment: Like the White the Red doesn't have an overly Japanese profile in my opinion but it is a lovely sweet drinkable malt none the less.

81 points

(2014)

Nikka Taketsuru NAS

The Nikka Taketsuru is a non age statement blended malt released in 2014 (in Europe). According to Nikka most malts in this one are around 10 years old. Bottled at 43% vol.

• Nose: Wood aromas, berries, green banana, grape gums, muscat grapes
• Mouth: Some light sherry, oily, wood, some slight tobacco, feels and tastes a bit watery nonetheless
• Finish: Fruity, sherry and honey and a hint of smoke. Still a bit watery. Adding a little bit water enhances the fruity aromas and adds some vanilla.

Comment: Lovely blended malt with a very Japanese profile. But the weak bodied watery taste in the mouth and finish diminishes the overall enjoyment a little bit. Adding water gives it more fruitiness but certainly doesn't help with the slightly watery overall taste.

83 points

(2014)