Nose: Quite simple on pears, green apple, lemon, malt, freshly cut timber, yeast. A little waxy. Reminds me of Glen Moray NAS.
Palate: Slightly bitter. Flat sprite, pears, freshly cut timber, malt, pepper, grapefruit.
Finish: Short on timber, pepper, grapefruit, malt.
Last Word: The label says it is blended with “new type” malt whisky. If that means it young, it certainly tastes it.
Rating: 69/100
Nose: Bran, wheat, oats. Lemon and lime. New oak and potato skins.
Palate: Toffee and grain. Golden syrup on pancakes with a light squeeze of lemon.
Finish: Medium on golden syrup, oak, a little poppy seed and cinnamon.
Last Word: Solid blend in the Scottish style. Kirin blends have often used Scottish whisky in the mix.
Ratings: 78/100
Nose: Immediately reminded me of its younger brother the Special Reserve Aged 10 Years. Apple custard, stewed pears. tinned peaches, banana, sawdust. Very creamy with a big dollop of Demerara sugar.
Palate: Yum. Very creamy mouth feels. 5 spice, mashed bananas, apple custard, tinned peaches, smooth oak.
Finish: Fresh cream-covered peaches, stewed apples and banana, sprinkled with sweet spices.
Last Word: Never loses its composure. Excellent blending. I`m giving the same score as the 10-yo version.
Rating: 87/100
Nose: Very oaky(grand age). Varnish, toffee, bran and hay. Not particularly inviting.
Palate: Improves on the nose. The oak tones down and there’s lots of sweet spice. Quite nutty. Clingy mouth feel. Some ginger ale.
Finish: Toffee and ginger ale. The oak makes a big return but a little too big unfortunately. The spicy sweetness remains.
Rating: 72/100
Nose: Malt, lemon, salt, anise, earthy. Floor polish, grapefruit, hazelnut, coffee grinds.
Palate: Needs water. Ton’s of lemon sherbert zing. Also, quite hot, with pepper and chilli powder. Malt, peanut shells, hazelnut, bittersweet. Ferrero Rocher, Hubba Bubba, creaming soda.
Finish: Long, with a little smoke, anise, oak, hazelnut, peanut shells, grapefruit and mint.
Rating: 87/100
Nose: Malt, roasted corn, light oak, caramels, varnish, a little perfumy.
Palate: Smoky malt, caramels, bubblegum, honeyed oats and some lime.
Finish: Short on malt and caramels then grassy with some smoke.
Final Word: Fairly simple blend more suitable for cocktails or as a mixer than drinking neat.
Rating: 75/100
Nose: Delightful. Vanilla, rye, rye bread spices (fennel, aniseed, cardamom), ginger bread, malt, caramel, lacquered teak.
Palate: As tasty as the nose is delightful. Again, vanilla, caramels, toasty rye, lacquered teak. Peanut butter, balanced sweet-and-savory spices and plenty of ginger bread.
Finish: Short/medium. Toasty rye, malt, sweet/savory spice combo, a little oak then mint ice cream.
Final Word: Enjoyed by all who tasted this one with me for the first time at Shot Bar Zoetrope Tokyo last year. Glad I now have a bottle.
Rating: 87/100
Nose: Butterscotch, blanched pears, vanilla, creamed corn, oak, mixed herbs, shellfish.
Palate: Creamed corn, green apple skin, butterscotch, rye, red grapes, a tad soapy.
Finish: Short, green apple skins, red grapes, rye, butterscotch. Better than expected, the soapy element and short finish lets it down.
FInal Word: About $12 a bottle in Japan
Rating: 78/100
Nose: Crisp and light. Pineapple, light oak, tinned peaches, creamed corn, toffee, mashed banana.
Palate: Pineapple, ginger bread, walnuts, red grapes, rye, strawberry, a little white pepper.
Finish: Short on the flavours of the palate and some white grapes.
Last Word: No heavy hitter but none the less a well crafted blend that can be picked up for peanuts in Japan.
Rating: 80/100
Nose: Deep and rich. Heavy Pineapple, passionfruit, papaya, a sherry like quality, brazil nuts, walnuts, rye, pipe tobacco, white pepper.
Palate: Nicely tangy(fruit tingles), pineapple, walnut, passionfruit skins, pipe tobacco, cloves, kiwi fruit, papaya, hint of sweet yoghurt.
Finish: Short medium with nothing added from the palate. This is a premium blend only let down by the shortish finish and low abv.
Last Word: Would be a killer at 48%abv.
Rating: 87/100
Nose: Very similar to the 2002 but a little less rich. So, pineapple, walnuts, mashed banana, vanilla, teak, pipe tobacco, rye, sugared lemon and a touch of lavender.
Palate: Pineapple, passionfruit, lavender, walnuts, rye, vanilla, pine-lime splice(an Australian ice-cream).
Finish: Again shortish on pine-lime splice(pine-lime ice over a vanilla centre, though the lime is sweet).
Final Word: A very solid blend.
Rating: 85/100.