Japan Trip Single Malts...

[dougdog]

Tim (TMH) came over Friday evening (12-1-6) and we sampled through some of the many whiskies he just brought back from Japan on his recent trip over there! Tim is a pretty generous guy…we opened 6 of these this evening.

All the whiskey is from the Nikka Family…They own the Yoichi and Miyagikyo/Sendai distilleries. (Correct me if I’m wrong Tim)

In the first picture, all the bottles shown/listed are from left to right …next two pictures are the close-ups.

1. Yoichi 15yo single malt, 90 proof, 750ml.

2. Nikka Super, vatted malt, 111 proof, 500ml.

3. Miyagikyo/Sendai, new make, 124 proof, 180ml.

4. Yoichi, single malt, 15yo, single cask, 124 proof, 500ml.

5. Yoichi, single malt, single cask, 128 proof, 500ml.

6. Yoichi, 5yo, single malt, single cask, 126 proof, 180ml. (cask # 40299)

7. Miyagikyo, single malt, 10yo, 124 proof, 180ml.

8. Yoichi, single malt, single cask, 10yo, 126 proof, 500ml.

9. Yoichi, single malt, single cask, 12yo, 108 proof, “Peaty and Salty” version, 500ml.

We opened in order of pours…3, 6, 2, 7, 8, and 9.

IIRC the 15 was opened and sampled in the past, I think we might have tasted this one again this night, but, time in the bottle didn’t seem to help it any. One of the early conclusions that seem to be developing is that; Japanese whiskies might be better consumed sooner. Time will tell.

I don’t want to bore you with tasting notes, but Tim has agreed to bring these bottles back in a few weeks to see how the bottle open up, then we will compare tasting notes again…sounds like homework…this time it is the fun kind.

Highlights…the new make was remarkable…I think Tim is planning to bring this bottle to the next West Coast Study Group for theme night. (Dec, 16th, 2006 6:30 PM…plug!)…Peaty/Salty was something new to the palate…the vatted was complex and pleasing; the single malts are stunners’ all!

Tim also brought some translated information regarding what they are doing with their wood program over there…It was VERY interesting to taste through these whiskies while reviewing the barrels used/noted for each expression/bottling. (Keep drinking that Bourbon so they can have plenty of barrels…Nikka is doing good things with the used cooperage)

Tim, did I leave anything out?

Thanks Tim, that was a GREAT “armchair” trip to Japan!...no jet lag!

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Quite a line up! I have only had a few of these. I have had Yoichi 10 in both the standard bottling and a single cask cask strenth version. I have had other Yoichi single malts at older ages when I toured the distillery. I've had the Nikka Super vatted pure malt and that is about it. I have, of course, had quite a few other Nikka whiskies. I did have a new make Yoichi. I would have bought a bottle but they were out.

Ed

[Jake_Parrott]

Doug, any word on the use of French oak? I remember a conversation we had back in May about maybe some of these whiskies would be interesting from new, toasted French oak.

[dougdog]

Good question Jake...I'll have to check the translation (at home) to see if there was any mention of French Oak...

I'm not sure the versions we were sampling were from that type of wood, but was not watching the detail of what else was mentioned on the sheet. Some was from bourbon hogsheads...(yes, they put in NEW oak ends)

I could also ask Tim to check the website, he speaks fluent Japanese, but is currently learning to read and write better, so his wife does all the translation for him when the detail needs to be extracted.

I'll post the wood program info I have as soon as possible.

[Jake_Parrott]

Cool. Thanks. I wish there were more and better opportunities for us hobbyists to raise our own whiskies (without rebarreling bottled stock, etc.). A new oak barrel is a three-figure investment, and the marginal cost of new make shouldn't be so bad if you have an "in."

But of course, the tax man rules all. Can anyone figure out a way to incorporate this sort of "study" into a Federal grant application? :) :)

[dougdog]

Quite a line up! I have only had a few of these. I have had Yoichi 10 in both the standard bottling and a single cask cask strenth version. I have had other Yoichi single malts at older ages when I toured the distillery. I've had the Nikka Super vatted pure malt and that is about it. I have, of course, had quite a few other Nikka whiskies. I did have a new make Yoichi. I would have bought a bottle but they were out.

Ed

Thanks go to Tim for the lineup!

It was my pleasure to sample these...your list mentioned sounds pretty good too!

The "Gotemba" from Kirin is the one I'm looking for...I had some of this at Four Roses in the sensory lab..it was quite good IIRC. Have you had any from that distillery yet?

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

Thanks go to Tim for the lineup!

It was my pleasure to sample these...your list mentioned sounds pretty good too!

The "Gotemba" from Kirin is the one I'm looking for...I had some of this at Four Roses in the sensory lab..it was quite good IIRC. Have you had any from that distillery yet?


Only once and it wasn't a top shelf product from them. I really didn't know there was more out there. I didn't much care for want I had, but my palate may have been off that day.

Ed

[drli]

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