The only cask strength Japanese liquid I can find so far
Good balance with tea like feeling with the finish.
Master of Malt Customer Mar 29, 2023
Strong and spicy
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.
Master of Malt Customer Dec 18, 2022
Unique and not for the casual whiskey drinker
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.
Benjamin West Jan 6, 2021
Subtle and Complex
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.
Krish Jan 1, 2021
A good drop, but not at the price.
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.
Mike Hawkes-Southern Jun 14, 2020
