Category Archives: Japanese Whisky Impressions
Chichibu The First
Since the promising initial releases of Newborn expressions from Ichiro Akuto’s Chichibu distillery we have been impatiently waiting for the first fully matured distillery release. The Newborn expressions were all over the map from bourbon barrels, to heavily peated and … Continue reading
Chichibu The Floor Malted
Another interesting new release from Chichibu and I am definitely not complaining…well the wallet is a little but I am sure that I will overcome its protests. Here in the US craft distillers get a lot of praise for their … Continue reading
Breaking New Ground With A Classic Touch: Chichibu’s Ichiro Akuto (Part 2)
This is the second part of our interview with Akuto San. You can read the first part here. WhiskyWall: You are growing your own barley, sourcing local peat and growing Mizunara trees. Is it your goal to make a … Continue reading
A More Mature White Oak: 12 Year
Last week I took a taste of White Oak (Eigashima) Akashi 5 year old. It showed some good promise so I was looking forward to giving its elder sibling a try. White Oak 12 Year ~$60/500ml 50% ABV Color: Medium … Continue reading
Filed under White Oak (Eigashima)
Off of the Japanese Whisky Beaten Path: White Oak (Eigashima) Akashi 5 Year
Japanese whisky has been making some serious headway in the single malt whisky world so most are familiar with Suntory’s Yamazaki and Hakushu expressions as well as Nikka’s Yoichi. But there are some other distilleries in Japan that have yet … Continue reading
Filed under White Oak (Eigashima)
Suntory Hakushu Distillery Hogshead 1996
Another one from the line up of our Japanese whisky tasting that we had in April. Suntory’s Hakushu Distillery puts out some solid expressions that I really like so this one had a lot to live up to. Hakushu Hogshead … Continue reading
Filed under Hakushu
Ichiro’s Malt Card 3 of Hearts (Hanyu)
This is one of the whiskies that we tried at our Japanese whisky tasting in April. An interesting expression of the now closed Hanyu distillery – stocks are now being stored at Ichiro’s new Chichibu distillery location. 3 of Hearts … Continue reading
Filed under Hanyu, Whisky Impressions
Kirin’s Fuji San Roku Whisky and the Disappearing Bottle Act
I gave in a picked up a bottle of Kirin’s whisky, Fuji Sanroku (“The Base of Mount Fuji”). Previously sighted on the internet, I noticed it on the shelves of liquor stores of Japan while making purchases of some more rarefied … Continue reading
Filed under Japanese Whisky Impressions, Kirin
A Tour of Yamazaki and an Extended Stay in the Tasting Bar
The pilgrimage to Suntory’s Yamazaki distillery came to completion on February 23, 2011. Already keyed up from the recent Suntory week, I can’t deny I experienced a bit of giddiness as I saw the distillery buildings set into the hillside … Continue reading
Filed under Distilleries, Yamazaki, Yamazaki
Suntory Week Sign-Off
Unfortunately, Suntory week is at an end. While it would have been grand to run it for another week, sadly our Suntory reserves are perilously low. Frankly, our reserves were never formidable to start with. That is one of the problems with … Continue reading
Filed under Whisky Impressions, Yamazaki
