Nose: There is some unripe apricots, unripe bananas, nutmeg, pencil shavings and green apples. What dominates though is red grape skins and vine leaves. The most grapey nose I’ve ever come across on a whisky and you smell it in a glass 2 feet away.
Palate: Follows the nose quite closely. Vine leaves, red grape skins, nutmeg, cinnamon bark, marzipan. Light bodied.
Finish: Red grape skins and cinnamon bark. Actually has some decent length for a 40%abv whisky.
Last Word: On the one hand I prefer this to the likes of Mars Iwai Tradition and Mars Iwai Bourbon barrel, but with mainly a couple of dominant flavors that must be from the Sakura cask finish, it’s a bit of a novely whisky.

Rating: 81/100