White Oak Akashi Sea Anchor

An Akashi blend. 40% vol.

• Nose: Banana, glue, some acidity like in old apple juice, alcohol
• Mouth: Oily, sweet
• Finish: Malt, barley, some hints of chocolate and leafs

Comment: Not too bad, but seems a bit young with some unpleasant alcohol notes. Not sure about the sea or anchors here :)

75 points

Nikka Black Clear

A 37% vol no age statement blend from Nikka.

• Nose: Very light fruitiness, a bit alcohol bite, some sweetness. Not too horrible.
• Mouth: Alcoholic
• Finish: A bit fruit, fairly mild, again alcohol

Comment: Almost nothing to it, tastes like a bottom shelf mixer which it probably is.

70 points

(2017)

Suntory Royal SR

One of the Suntory Royal variants, this one is without age statement. 43% vol.

• Nose: Smokey, Tobacco but fairly subtle in general
• Mouth: Fairly bland...
• Finish: Bitter oak, corked wine, hay

Comment: Really not much going on here, the finish reminds more more of corked wine than anything. Would not recommed.

65 points

(1990s...)

Chichibu Chibidaru 2009 - 2013 Ichiro's Malt

A small "chibi" cask. Bottled at 53.5% vol.

• Nose: Very fruity, vanilla, juicy oak, banana, assorted tropical fruits,
• Mouth: Vanilla, passion fruit, creamy
• Finish: Medium long, a bit oak, cheesecake, tropical fruits again

Comments: love this!

88 points

Yoichi 8 Year Old Hokkaido Distillery

Can't say too much about this one except it's an eight year old Yochi. Bottled at 43% vol. in 500ml bottles.

• Nose: Peat, smoke, malt, sugar, honey, oak, a bit yeast
• Mouth: Malt, peat, oily and dry
• Finish: Dry peat and smoke, malt, oak and cedar wood, licorice

Comment: A fantastic younger version of the Yoichi with lots of power. Rather dry which suits this one very well. Nose is a bit restrained but mouth and finish are a lot of fun.

88 points

Shinshu Mars Komagatake - The Revival 2011

The first bottling since the restart of the Mars Komagatake distillery in 2011. Limited to 6000 bottles and bottled at 58% vol. cask strength. Aged for 3 years in bourbon casks.

• Nose: Intensive pear juice, some light smoke and peat, fermented apples, glue and vanilla
• Mouth: Very light without much body, a bit pepper
• Finish: Pepper, glue, a bit sharp, vanilla flavored yogurt, apple, cinnamon

Comment: Definitely a bit young, but a powerful complex nose. This has a lot of potential i think.

80 points

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