Nose: Loads of malt, touch of sherry, bubblegum, blueberries, pine. Some earthiness. Doesn’t sound exciting but it’s quite lovely.
Palate: Light body. Malt, bubblegum, toffee, nutmeg, coconut, cashews and that touch of sherry. Late arrival of smoke and ash ala Yoichi. Tasty.
Finish: Basically follows the palate with quite some smoke and ash.
Last Word: Ridiculously good for the money at less that $20 Australia in Japan. Right on par or maybe even a touch better than the 2010 batch so same score.

Rating: 87/100

Nose: Masses of sweet oak, wheat, peaches, and the first hints I’ve had from this one of some sherry in the equation. After a while there are some floral notes.
Palate: Salt, big oak, malt, biscuity, ginger spice, black pepper, the soft coating on the outside of peanuts. Packs a lot more punch than 43% might suggest.
Finish: Is warming and a tad alcoholic. Medium length, mainly leaves some fresh mintyness and peanuts on the palate then a little dry.
Rating: 86/100

This whisky is a vatting of Yoichi malt and an Islay whisky.
Nose: There is a good whiff of peat as well as walnuts, wet moss, leather, sea spray, pepper, wood stain (after breathing for a while) and nectarines. After some time, there is a hint of lemon.
Palate: Nicely oily (nut oil). The peat comes through big time. Also charcoal, pepper and a slight bitterness. The second sip adds walnuts, creamy macadamia and a kind of minted toffee to the picture.
Finish: Medium length with earthy/vegetal peat dominating; macadamia, spice and mint. Slightly drying.
Last Word: This is ever so moreish and a real bargain. One for lovers of peaty whisky.
Rating: 88/100

Nose: A little bit floral. Peaches, oak, peat, varnish, and pineapple. Malty, complex and smooth.
Palate: Very malty, bubblegum (a trait I find in many a Nikka/Yoichi/Miyagikyo whiskies), pepper, nutmeg, sweet peat and gentle smoke.
Finish: Excellent length, with peat, pepper, nutmeg, mint chocolate and lingering smoke.
General comment: Tasty and great value in Japan.

Rating: 87/100

Nose: Maybe I’ve been sucked in by the name but this does indeed smell very malty. Lots of chewy toffee, walnuts, fresh cut timber, pears and pineapple.
Palate: Again nicely malty; pineapple, lemon sherbet, walnuts, nutmeg, dried mixed herbs and pepper.
Finish: Medium length: warming, malty and medium spiced.
Last Word: This is a good solid whisky that is reasonably complex. It is easy to drink a few glasses. An everyday drinker that’s great value in Japan, at around 1,000 yen.
Rating: 82/100

Nose: Malt, oak, butter, pear, varnish, unscented soap, blueberries and cheese. Yep, cheese.
Palate: There’s a big malt component; blueberry cheesecake, cream, walnuts and toffee.
Finish: Medium length. Unscented soap and cheese. Malt, toffee and walnuts that cling to the palate, and some sweet spices.
Final Word: Interesting but good.
Rating: 86/100

Nose: Tinned peaches, dried apricots; wood stain, oak, licorice, lemon pepper, cream and a hint of lavender.
Palate: Malt, tinned peaches, lemon, sugared nuts and oak.
Finish: Medium length, bittersweet (lemon/tinned peaches) oak. Ends quite creamily.
Rating: 86/100

Nose: Fairly acetone at first, then becomes a little floral. Some pear, soap flakes. There is not a lot going on and what there isn’t very pleasing.
Palate: Varnish, red grape, some nuttiness. Quite bitter. Adding water just flattens this further.
Finish: Bitter, a little perfumey.

Last Word: I think this one has OD’d on E-150.
Rating: 65/100

Nose: Malty. Freshly baked apple pie, lemon meringue, cloves, freshly cut timber, a little sherry, vanilla.
Palate: Again, nicely malty. Nutmeg, cloves, popcorn, apple pie with a white sugar dusted crust, vanilla custard, mango.
Finish: Short to medium and continuing the flavours from the palate and the freshly cut timber.

Last Word: A liquid desert

Rating: 87/100