Category Archives: Blends

Miyagikyo Date Coffey Malt & Coffey Grain Blend 43%abv

Posted on by
4

miyagikyo-date-coffey-malt-and-coffey-grain-blend-43

Nose: Apricots, cantaloupe, coconut, tea, toffee, bran, oats.
Nose: Big spices both savory and sweet make this seem bigger than 43%abv. Chunky malt, tea, toffee, peanuts, coconut, cereals. Leans towards malt rather than grain. Water brings out some classic Nikka bubblegum.
Finish: Malt, savory spices and cereals, Fades fairly quickly.
Last Word: A fine session whisky and great value in Japan at around AUD$30-35. The blend of coffey malt and grains makes for an intriguing and tasty whisky.

Rating: 85/100
* Here is an alternate review from Whiskies R Us http://whiskiesrus.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/nikka-date-blended-whisky.html

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel 51.4%abv circa 2012

Posted on by
3

nikka-wftb-circa-2012Nose: Typical of many Nikka blends with not a lot of grain influence. Mixed peel, mandarins, malt, oak, apricots, grapefruit, woodstain.
Palate: Maple syrup, mandarins, bubblegum, malt, honey, nuts, sweet spices, oak. Slightly oily.
Finish: Tangy spices, mandarins, bubblegum, nuts and some drying wood.
Last Word: Not quite up to previous batches I’ve tried before including this 2009 version, which was spicier and felt like a bigger whisky overall.

Rating: 86/100

*Update 11/1/2012. Enjoying the last(large dram) of this bottle and the big spices seem to be concentrating at last. That’s more like it.

Nikka Super 43%abv

Posted on by
Reply

japanese-whisky-072

Nose: A bit spirity. Kind of reminds me of those middle of the road Scotch blends my parents used to drink: stewed apples, bran, straw, glue. Not bad, but not special either.
Palate: Fairly smooth and clean; very malty. Peanut shells, chocolate, bran, oranges and glue.
Finish: Medium length with malt, spice and uncooked rice.
Last Word: This is a pretty straight forward blend that would go well with ice on a warm day or with your favorite mixer.
Rating: 74/100

Togouchi Aged 18 Years 43%

Posted on by
Reply

japanese-whisky-089

Nose: Is soft and fruity, mainly peach and pear. Some cereal notes of oats and bran; also varnish, white pepper and baked carrots. After about 10 minutes, some oak comes into the picture.
Palate: Very clean malt, some white pepper, bran, cream, marzipan, sweet baked carrot, sweet corn.
Finish: Medium length, medium spice, and echoes what came before. Leaves a feeling of white pepper covered bran on the palate. After about 20 minutes, the nose produces a nice hit of malt.
Last Word: Overall, this is a very pleasant whisky and a first class effort for a company that only produces one whisky. Like a number of Japanese blends I’ve had, this doesn’t come across as overly ‘blendy’.
Rating: 82/100

Ichiro’s Malt and Grain Premium 50% abv

Posted on by
Reply

p1000853

Nose: Sherry but not heavy. Rhubarb, vanilla, sweet tobacco, strawberry compote, oak, yeast, mint, pepper,
Palate: Glazed cherries, toffee, cinnamon, wholemeat dough, sweet glazes oranges, rhubarb.
Finish: Glazed cherry, rhubarb, toffee, oak. The flavours tend to clash more than gel. Last Word: Reminds me somewhat of Ichiro’s Malt for the Taster which has a similar issue. Not bad by any means, just something not quite right for my palate.
Rating: 81/100

Suntory Whisky Royal aged 15 years 43%

Posted on by
2

suntory-royal-aged-15-years-43

Nose: Licorice covered oak with lemon and banana. Some macadamia nuttyness and wood stain. Sweet and creamy with soft grains of mainly bran and wheat. After about 10 minutes, apricot makes an appearance.
Palate: Very creamy but with that hint of lemon bitterness. Macadamia nut, licorice, banana, nutmeg and golden syrup. Smooth!
Finish: Smooth, soft grain, creamy nuts, licorice, lemon and some salty zing on the tongue.
Last Word: This whisky wears it’s ‘blendedness’ on this it’s sleeve with the grains definitely dominating. If you are looking for a malty blend then this one is probably not for you. If, however, you like a smooth Bourbon-esque style then step in line.
Rating: 86/100

Nikka From the Barrel. 51.4%abv circa 2009

Posted on by
Reply

nikka-whisky-from-the-barrel-51-4

Nose: Lots of chunky malt, mixed peel, dried apricots. A bowl of mixed nuts, wood stain and some subtle florals.
Palate: Just excellent! Tons of big beautifully integrated spices, creamy nuttiness, nougat and malty goodness. No need for water with this one as it’s perfectly drinkable neat.
Finish: Long, warming, malty, nutty, spicy and mouth coating.
Last Word:  I find it very hard to stop at just one glass of this stuff.

Rating: 91/100

Suntory Century 2001 Aged 15 Years. 43% abv

Posted on by
Reply

suntory-century-2001-aged-15-years-43

Nose: Lots of orange and sweet lemon. Firm grain. Fresh dough, wood stain and something slightly chargrilled. Light florals.
Palate: Smooth like it’s cousin the Suntory Royal 15YO: zingy citrus, cream, some oak, fresh dough. Excellent balance.
Finish: Again, smooth with a medium length: sweet and creamy with just enough sweet spice to add some oomph.
Rating: 85/100

Mercian Ootori (the malt in this whisky came from Karuizawa distillery). Aged 15 years. 40%abv

Posted on by
Reply

mercian-karuizawa-ootori-blend-age-15-years-40

Nose: A rich succulent bouquet. A big bunch of bananas, vanilla, walnuts, oranges, firm grain and fresh cut timber. Sounds sweet. It is!
Palate: Smooth and creamy; mashed bananas, more orange, sweet lemon and the same firm grain.
Finish: Fairly short but smooth, with nutmeg, orange chocolate and continuing the flavors from the palate.

Last Word: Unfortunately became quite gluey half was throught the bottle.
Rating: 79/100

Kirin-Seagram Orchid 43%abv

Posted on by
Reply

kirin-orchid-blend-sherry-matured-43

Nose: Some Colgate mintiness. Chargrilled peppers, walnut, marmalade, freshly cut grass, putty, salt, citronella. Yeh, it’s a bit odd.
Palate: Softish delivery. Now the sherry influence starts to come through. Cherries, sultanas (ok, there’s the sherry bit), bananas, putty, brazil nut, black pepper.
Finish: Shortish and dry with putty, walnuts, sultanas and bananas.
Final Word:　This appears to be some sort of whisky liqueur. The ingredients say “malt, grain, sherry,” which indicates that this is not just a sherry butt matured whisky but that sherry itself was added. Odd. Perfectly fine to drink, but nothing special.
Rating: 75/100

Dunbar Pure Malt (Kirin-Seagram). 42%abv

Posted on by
Reply

dunbar-pure-malt-42

Nose: Plasticine, cardboard, glue, oak, orange, candle wax, licorice… urinal cakes.
Palate: Quite bitter, with Plasticine, peanut shells, liquorice, oak. I hesitate to say urinal cakes again, as this might imply I’ve tried them, but this, I imagine, is what they might taste like.
Finish: Short and bitter with Plasticine, glue, orange and liquorice. The orange and licorice does not redeem this. Overall, the flavours don’t integrate well at all.
Last Word: This doesn’t taste or smell much like whisky, though the orange and liquorice may indicate some sort of Bourbon barrel influence. From nose to finish this is rather unpleasant. A complete misfire from Kirin.
Rating: 60/100

Hibiki 21-year-old. 43%abv

Posted on by
Reply

hibiki-21-43

Nose: An extremely rich bouquet; Seville oranges, bananas, licorice, polished leather, bourbon barrel oak, vanilla, orange coffee.
Palate: Smooth and creamy to start; then a big dollop of sweet spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, licorice. More of the Seville oranges plus white plums, leather and sweet cigar leaf.
Finish: Long, with a fruity/dry combination dominated by the flavors on the palate.
Last Word: A sophisticated blend. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 91/100

Suntory Special Reserve 10YO 43%abv

Posted on by
Reply

suntory-special-reserve-whisky-aged-10-years-43-600x800

Nose: Nicely fruity: peaches, bananas and pineapple. Vanilla, gentle oak and sawdust. After a while, a vegetal element emerges balancing out the sweetness.

Palate: Immediate spiciness, nuts, fresh baked scones and stewed apples.

Finish: Nicely warming and mouth coating with a medium length; nuts and custard over stewed apples.

Last Word: A classy blend of good complexity.

Rating:87/100

White Oak Crown Blended Whisky 43%abv

Posted on by
Reply

white-oak-crown-blend-43

Nose: Honey, toffee apple, fresh orange peel, malt, some grassyness and a little oak
Palate: Smooth and creamy, more malty than the nose, hints of chocolate, lemongrass, red grape, honey and some bitterness playing against the sweetness of the honey and chocolate
Finish: Short-medium, with bitter chocolate, red grape, honey and malt dominating.
Last Word: Smooth and easy to drink. Well balanced overall.
Rating: 80/100

Golden Horse (Toa Shuzo) Special Blended Malt Whisky 42%abv

Posted on by
Reply

golden-horse-special-blended-malt-42-2

Nose: Briney and minerally. Some lemon, a little soapy and a floral note. Fairly flat, overall.
Palate: Smooth, a bit creamy. Some malt, nuttiness and musk. A very basic construction, without any real development.
Finish: A bit of malt and musk. Dies a short, simple death with some trailing bitterness. Mineral tastes at the end.
Rating: 67/100

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain. 46%abv

Posted on by
Reply

ichiros-malt-and-grain-46

Nose: Peach fuzz, vanilla, lychen, barley, cauliflower and white sauce, lemon, woodstain, straw, banana.
Palate: Light and crisp, lemon squash, chestnuts, straw, barley, vanilla, banana and a little chilli. With water, it has toffee, tobacco and pineapple.
Finish: Shortish, smooth and easy going. Bittersweet. On toffee, lemon, tobacco, bran, banana and a hint of nutmeg.
Last Word: Has evolved positively with time.
Rating: 79/100