Hi everyone,
Got two Japanese single malts from Nikka today, both 10 year olds, both discontinued (at least over here). They are Yoichi and Miyagikyo.
Because of the huge popularity of Japanese whisky at the moment, they seem to have quickly run out of aged stocks and switched to NAS with spiralling prices going crazy the anything with an age statement. So I was lucky to find these in two bars.
Yoichi 10 45%
Colour: Gold
Body: Medium
Nose: Hot, sweet and sticky. Lots of complex sweet oak, thick toffee and syrup and tangy citrus- Lemon and lime. Crisp malty sweetness, crème brulee, sticky toffee pudding and vanilla. A little wood smoke.
Taste: Big and bold. Loads of complex wood and oaky sweetness. Vanilla, fresh citrus and malt, some nut. Building wood spice- Ginger and tannins.
Finish: Medium length. Oaky spices fade with some tannins.
I think this is meant to be peated but I found very little smoke.
73/100
Miyagikyo 10 45%
Colour: Gold
Body: Medium/Full
Nose: Intense. Exotic spice and liquorice. Liquorice allsorts, aniseed, star anise, intense thyme and rosemary, saffron, crushed mint leaves. Woody spice, lavender and burning incense sticks. Then sweeter after a bit with sherry, fruit pastilles, apple sauce (weirdly) and mango juice.
Taste: Quite sweet, a little oak, exotic spice building and melding with a delicious measured sherry sweetness. Liquorice, aniseed, incense, then more drying with white and black grapes into the finish.
Finish: Medium/Long length. A sweet surge with liquorice allsorts and fruit pastilles then sweet oak.
This is almost like a more exotic version of Glen Grant. Woody, spicy and fruity, all well balanced and working well.
77/100
Thanks for reading!
Reviews #339-#340
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