Kaiyo Whisky Cask Strength

Nose - oaky, spicy, slight notes of citrus oil
Palate - peppery (I get white more than black), clove, other mixed spices
Finish - spice, gives way to lingering black pepper

For me at least it needs a little splash of water to bring out definite notes of any sort.

18th December 2022

This is a very strong and unique blend. It’s surprisingly smooth and packs a punch.
The nose is spicy and salty with vanilla tones and a thick fruity finish.

There are definitely better whiskeys at this price point but this I really enjoy and savour.

6th January 2021

Was worried considering the cost and the NAS and it being blended

Nose: Faint even without water but there are plums, vanilla, oak, spiciness, acetone / (probably from the grain spirit) alcohol

Palet; Amazingly subtle (worth a drop of water but not too much) plums, tropical fruits, not overly sweet but its there, sandalwood, hazelnuts, grassy/vegetal, aromatic perfumes, richness is there but nothing stands out it just deliver tons of different tastes each time

Finish: Short and more fruit and perfume

Definitely worth it and I'm sure as it sits in the bottle will get even better (may buy a second bottle) only thing it lacked was a bit of body and sweetness but I'm used to sherried whisky so its a different beast.

1st January 2021

The nose is strongly butterscotch; smells like sniffing a packet of Werther's Original. Surprisingly pleasant, but for a whisky of this price also surprisingly one note.
I was braced for raw alcohol given the 53% cask strength, but even neat I was very pleased at how smooth this dram is. No harsh, raw alcohol at all such as you might get from a much weaker Penderyn.
The main flavours are oak smoke and peat, but there's a very pleasant caramel or burned toffee note in there too. I'm a fan of Isla Tay malts and found the peatiness pleasant; my partner in drinks is avowedly not, being a Speyside drinker. Even he conceded that there was enough peat to know it's there, but not so much that he didn't enjoy it.
All in all a very pleasant dram, but I really can't give five stars to a whisky that's extremely comparable to some Jura offerings when the Jura is half the price. A good drop, but next time I'll spend the same money on a Scotch and get something even better.

14th June 2020

Did this really win Japanese Whisky of the year and if so how? Even the more lesser blends of Suntory and Nikka blow this away. Found it spirity, pithy and sappy with a sort of salted rice pudding and yellow plum led palate with almost Gin like aromatic botanicals. I was glad of only a 3cl sample and would be gutted to have paid even half of the asking price.

28th March 2020

I saw this won best Japanese Whisky of the Year. I have to say I was blown away. I don't know if I like the 43% better or this cask strength version. both my new favorite.

25th November 2019

The nose: burnt barley overpowers the nose; The palette: it feels like a 10 year old generic speyside with hints of salt; The finish: hollow, typical of a yound speyside, but with hints of burnt barley.

23rd August 2019