Japanese | Malt - Whisky Reviews

Category: Japanese

December 20, 2014

Review: SMWS G12.1 Oh So Sweet

These last past couple of months the Scotch Malt Whisky Society have been giving my wallet a real pounding. Last month’s release was epic in..

June 10, 2014

Suntory Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Japanese whisky. I went Islay mad for a bit, but this cheeky little Suntory Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve..

December 16, 2013

Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Old

This one’s big in Japan. The Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Old won the World’s Best Blended Malt Whisky at the 2010 World Whiskies Awards, as..

September 10, 2013

Flaviar Tasting Set – “Whisky’s Big in Japan”

Flaviar is a really simple, really neat idea. Subscribe to them and get sent a tasting pack of whiskies. Get some friends around for a..

July 22, 2013

Hanyu 1988/2007 Cask 9501, Japanese Oak Finish

A very brief review, while I have a window of opportunity (I’m getting married next week – more on that soon). Therefore, this will be..

May 23, 2013

Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu 23 Year Old Cask Strength

Back to Japan! And back with Ichiro. The Hanyu Distillery ceased operations over a decade ago, and I talked a little bit about it in..

May 7, 2013

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The Peated

Three is the magic number. Three years of distillation. And in that time, Ichiro Akuto at Chichibu has produced a whisky that surpasses drams that..

Japanese

November 5, 2012

Hakushu Bourbon Barrel

Time for another Suntory whisky. The Hakushu distillery is located in the Southern Japanese Alps, where there are ‘untouched forests, mountains, and pure waters’ to..

October 31, 2012

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

A word of warning: I seriously loved the 1995 Single Cask version of this whisky. When I say seriously loved, I mean I smuggled a..

October 22, 2012

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain

Ichiro Akuto makes some very good whiskies indeed, so I was looking forward to trying his Malt & Grain blend. For those who have never..

October 15, 2012

Four Karuizawa Whiskies, Single Casks & Spirit of Asama

I’ve banged on about Japanese whisky enough by now to hopefully convert one or two people to its seductive and classy ways. Today, courtesy of..

Japanese

September 5, 2012

Ichiro’s Card Series: Hanyu 2000/2007 3 of Spades

Continuing my enjoyment of Hanyu single malt whisky, I’ve acquired another sample, this time from the famous (in whisky geek circles, at least) card series…

August 25, 2012

Hanyu 21 Year Old

Hanyu distillery, in Japan, is an ex-distillery. It is no more. Since 2000, it has ceased to be. Ichiro Akuto, of Chichibu fame, and also..

July 26, 2012

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu The First

Ichiro Akuto. Now that’s a cool name, but his distillery name is even cooler – Chichibu. Try saying that without smiling. Ichiro comes from a..

July 23, 2012

Nikka 1995 Single Cask Coffey Grain

Time for something different: single grain whisky, which is made from grains other than just barley (which is used for standard single malt) and distilled in column stills (the sort..

July 16, 2012

Ichiro’s Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve

Craft distiller Ichiro Akuto is the alchemist behind this Japanese blend. It’s a vatting of single malts (possibly from the Hanyu and Chichibu distilleries), that have then been stored..

July 15, 2012

Hakushu Heavily Peated Single Malt Whisky

The Japanese make a mean single malt whisky, as I’ve said many times before, and I’m always trying to get people to try some drams..

June 30, 2012

Yamazaki 18 Year Old

The Yamazaki 18 Year Old is a very well respected Japanese single malt whisky. It received a Gold at the 2007 International Spirits Challenge and..

June 22, 2012

Yamazaki Puncheon

Time for another whisky from the Suntory distillery in Japan. This time it’s the Yamazaki Puncheon, so called because this whisky is aged in a 480-litre..

May 20, 2012

Nikka Miyagikyo 15 Year Old

The Nikka Miyagikyo 15 Year Old is another intriguing single malt from Japan. It comes from the Miyagikyo distillery, which uses steam heat distillation in order..