G’day,
In my latest YouTube video here I review the Yoichi 2000’s Single Malt 57%abv. Never bought a bottle when they were released and hadn’t tasted up until now. After tasting do I now wish I’d bought a bottle? Is it better than the Miyagikyo 2000’s Single Malt? Let’s find out!
Kampai
Brian
Hi friends,
In this video I review the Yoichi Grande Single Malt 2022. Are these no age statement Nikka Whiskies worth the money being asked? How does this one stack up against other Nikka Special Editions? Lets find out!
Kampai
Brian
Nose: Fruity, malty, earthy. Dried pears, dried apples, orange peels, currants. Dusty oak, rhubarb, lemon juice, barley, vanilla. Even with the earth and oak there is a crispness to the nose. Almonds and more vanilla with water added.
Palate: Palate has some decent punch for 47%abv. Malt, dried apples, nutmeg, strawberry shortbread, almonds, hazelnuts. Heated copper and a touch of sulphur. Some pepper with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Oak, cacao powder, earth, vanilla pods. The finish starts on the short side but lengthens after a few sips. A little drier with water added.
Last Word: I was sceptical when I first heard about this release. A No Age Statement, Non-Peated Yoichi, whoop-de-do. Another overpriced novelty?
I’m not convinced it’s worth the price but, it’s a lot better than I expected and a decent step up from the standard No Age Statement Yoichi Single Malt. I suspect there is some long aged whisky in the blend.
Rating: 88/100
Nose: Grapefruit, varnish, apples, dried pears, lemons, tar, brine, damp earth. Doesn’t nose like there is a lot of older malt in the blend.
Palate: Blueberries, dark chocolate, Sara Lee Apple Danish, peat, damp earth, black currants, brine, oily mouth feel. Water brings out some of that multi-fruit breakfast juice. Medium Bodied.
Finish: Peat, coal, blueberries, menthol, ash, oak, tobacco leaf, tea tannins. The finish is longer, more citric and oilier with water added. In fact, it’s quite long indeed.
Last Word: Definitely has the Yoichi DNA and the Apple Brandy Wood Finish has no more than a very subtle influence!
Rating: 87/100
Nose: Earthy peat, damp forest floor, sugared lemons, salted poached pears, saddle bags, orange peels, balsamic, apricots, brine, sour dough, mint leaves, salted cashews, diesel fumes, lychee’s. No single element overwhelms.
Palate: The salted poaches pears. Salted caramel chews, nutmeg, cashews, mint chocolate, earthy peat, diesel, menthol, white grapes, pepper, lychee, lemon sherbet, oily. Very approachable at 63%abv.
Finish: Medium length. Nutmeg, mint chocolate, seaweed, lemon curd, diesel fumes, orange peels.
Last Word: Wonderfully harmonious and complex and as mentioned no single element overwhelms so each flavor and nuance is given it’s chance to shine. They could have name this Peaty, Salty, Fruity and Nutty. Bravo Yoichi!
Rating: 93/100
Note: As far as I know this is the only record of this bottling that exists and it’s a privilege for my local whisky group to be the proud owners of a bottle.
Nose: Dark cherries, raspberry dark chocolate, an old bar, cloves, old leather, charred oak barrels.
Palate: Baking spices, raisin toast, cherry chocolate, Turkish delight, cocoa, fruit tingles, menthol, ginger ale, salt.
Finish: Cocoa, menthol, salt, old whisky barrels, ginger, raspberry dark chocolate, Turkish delight and a hint of struck match.
Last Word: I always have high hopes for these sherry cask matured Yoichi Single Malts and this one doesn’t disappoint. Just a shame so few people will ever get to try one.
Rating: 90/100
Nose: Caramel salted popcorn, earthy peat, salted peanuts, mushrooms, fishing trawler diesel exhaust, marmalade, blueberries, vanilla.
Palate: Very salty, possibly the saltiest whisky I’ve tasted and no problem for me as a saltoholic. Peanut brittle, salted caramel chocolate, mushrooms, the earthy peat, mint chocolate biscuits, cola, nutmeg, pepper, seaweed. Water brings out vanilla and toasted marshmallows. Where the nose is reasonably soft/subtle, the palate is big and bold.
Finish: Heavily salted pork crackling, earthy peat, peanuts, ash, toasted marshmallows, mint jelly, seawater.
Last Word: Pretty much gives you all it has from the get go so don’t expect this to have many hidden treasures. One thing is for sure, I wish this was Yoichi’s standard NAS single malt instead of what they are currently bottling.
Rating: 88.5/100