The next line of reviews, 7 of them, will feature Japanese whiskies. 4 blended (vatted) malts and 3 single malts from cult distillery Karuizawa... but you'll have to check back regularly for reviews on those...
I'll be doing a small vertical of the Taketsuru blended (vatted) malts - aged 12, 17 and 21.
A 35yo version is also bottled, but I won't be reviewing that.
Masataki Taketsuru was the name of the Japanese gentleman that travelled to Scotland in the early 20th century to study at Glasgow University and learn the secrets of whisky making, first at at Longmorn in Speyside and then (the original) Hazelburn Distillery in Campbeltown.
He then returned home to Japan to start a distillery himself and the first one built was Yoichi on the north island Hokkaido, close to the city of Sapporo.
This series of blended malts were made in his honor...
Taketsuru 12yo, 40%, Blended Malt, Nikka
Colour is amber
Nose:
Some sherry as in dark fruits, overripe apple and vanilla and something herbal (tea?)
Taste:
Sherried edge again, hardwood, malt, natural caramel, peppery and cooked apple. The oak and caramel and finish is is a bit too bitter for me
Hmm... decent sipping whisky, but IMO the finish isn't all that great!
79/100!
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