Japan Ichiro's Malt Chichibu Zoetrope Banzai 8th Anniversary Whisky Review Shot Bar Zoetrope. Notes Eye: Blonde Nose: Melon, honey, and vanilla. Quite floral with hints of boiled candies. Palate: More melon! Sweet honey with some waxy goodness. Citrusy vanilla. Finish: Waxy malty bourbon
Hanyu Ichiro's Malt Shot Bar Zoetrope 3rd Anniversary Whisky Review Another one from my Shot Bar Zoetrope visits. Notes Eye: Amber Nose: Very meaty, with a sweet jam note underneath. Palate: More smoked meat but with some other fruit in there too. I
Karuizawa Karuizawa 1979 Cask 7752 Whisky Review Also tried at Shot Bar Zoetrope in Tokyo, Japan. Notes Eye: Super dark Nose: Deep sherry and berry jam, hints of strong coffee. Wood polish and a heavy floral element. Nuts. Sugar. It's
Japan Ichiro's Choice Karuizawa Sherry Influence 1983 Whisky Review Another gem from Shot Bar Zoetrope in Tokyo. Notes Eye: Deep caramel Nose: Sherry with heavy espresso, thickened cream, and dark chocolate. Hints of berries, but also something almost fungal? Quite earthy. Palate:
Hanyu Ichiro's Malt Card Queen of Clubs Whisky Review Another Hanyu from the famous Ichiro's Malt Card series, this one is interesting because it was finished in new american oak. Notes Eye: Burnt amber Nose: Plenty of fruits on the nose and
Ichiro's Malt Ichiro's Malt Card 9 of Aces Whisky Review Another absolute gem from Shot Bar Zoetrope in Tokyo. Notes Eye: Deep Nose: Cherry and stone fruit, peaches. Quite floral. Throw some berries in too. Palate: Very sweet and sticky, hints of peat.
Port Ellen Douglas Laing Port Ellen 26yr 1979 Old Malt Cask Whisky Review I was given a glass of this phenomenal Port Ellen by my friend Yoji in Japan. Notes Eye: Blonde Nose: Peat with some iodine and smoked meat. Quite earthy with hints of peat
Lark Lark Olorosso Sherry Release 2014 Whisky Review Had this one at a tasting a while ago hosted by Tim Duckett from Heartwood. Notes Eye: Mahogany Nose: Espresso, dark chocolate and hints of citrus. Very refined nose. Palate: Espresso, dark chocolate,
Bowmore Three Rivers Bowmore 2014 14yr Whisky Review Tried this one in Japan at Bar Gravity near Ebisu Station. Notes Eye: Golden amber Nose: Clay, with high levels of peat. Lemon honey and oak notes. Hints at the ocean but not
Ardbeg Cadenhead's Ardbeg 16yr 1994 Whisky Review Ardbeg from the mid 1990's and Cadenhead's single cask quality, doesn't get much better. Notes Eye: Blonde Nose: Refined peat with obvious lemon citrus. Salty and sweet. Some green vegetation. Palate: Sweet lemon
Scotch Malt Whisky Society SMWS 53.215 Youthful dragon having fun Whisky Review Tried this while visiting a whisky bar in Japan that had a decent stock of Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottles. Caol Ila, refill bourbon cask, and a recommendation from a friend meant that
Japan SMWS 120.7 Sweet, fragrant and satisfying Whisky Review I picked up a bottle of this a little while ago from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Australia but hadn't opened it yet. You can imagine how happy I was to walk
New World Projects New World Projects Ginger Beer Cask Release 2 Whisky Review This is the second Ginger Beer Cask released by New World Whisky Distillery under their New World Projects range. Notes Eye: Orange amber Nose: Waxy ginger and lemongrass. Smells richer than the first
Australia New World Projects Ginger Beer Cask Release 1 Whisky Review A while back at a Starward master class at The Oak Barrel in Sydney hosted by David Vitale we were lucky enough to be given a sample of a new creation from the
Single Cask Heartwood Devil in the Detail 15yr Whisky Review As soon as Tim Duckett from Heartwood announced the release of this whisky on Facebook I ordered a few bottles. How could I resist? Every whisky I have tried from Heartwood has been
Islay Berry's Bowmore 11yr 2001 Berry's Own Whisky Review Berry Bros. & Rudd release spectacular whisky, and this one is no exception. 2001 vintage Bowmore, in what appears to have been a refill Bourbon cask. Giddy up. Notes Eye: Light gold Nose:
Islay Douglas Laing Ardbeg 10yr Old Malt Cask 1993 Whisky Review A nice young indie from a great period in Ardbegs distilling history. Notes Eye: Blonde white wine Nose: Lemon maritime smoke... heaven. Barbecues. Harbour diesel. Chalk and clay. Quite mineral. Vanilla with time.
Single Cask SMWS 66.31 Apples at Hallowe'en Whisky Review The SMWS are always bottling great stuff. I grabbed this one at auction a while back. Notes Eye: Golden with a Mahogany Hue Nose: Well used BBQ meets burnt limes and burnt apple.
Islay Douglas Laing Ardbeg 18yr 1991 Old Malt Cask Whisky Review Early 1990s Ardbeg, it really doesn't get much better than this. Bit of age under its belt too. I haven't had many from the 1990s that were sherried. Notes Eye: Mahogany infused honey