Tastes

Big, bright, fruity - pineapple, peach, citrus. It is rich and syrupy. There is a pleasant amount of spice upfront, but a sweet caramel washes it out. There is floral honey, a toastiness, and continued clove and cinnamon. The wood really comes out at the end with a slight bitterness and dryness, but there is enough going on to balance it out. This drinks very much like a Highland, which I appreciate about it, but the other notes pop at the right places to distinguish this from other single malts. $115 a bottle is right at the edge to make this a bottle I would not buy again, but can highly recommend someone else does! I still like the Shin 15 more as tops right now of my Japanese bottles, but this is a close second, especially since the Shin 15 is around $90.

It's rice, and I shouldn't be thinking this is a "rice wine or sake" as the distiller insists, but this is not whisky. Right away you are hit with sunscreen scents of coconut, orange blossom, and other tropical fruits. Is this a bad, thing? Usually not, but there is a fake tropical fruit presence that ruins this for me the whole time. It overwhelms it from the notes one seeks out in a good whisky. The palate is slight oak, raisin, and cranberry - but not the normal notes of whisky - with an overwhelming anise/licorice finish. Not a deep or long finish, but overwhelming. There is just something different about this and it does not translate to good for me. There is a continued fruitiness throughout that might be the sherry but it is not the normal notes I am used to - it is almost fake/sunscreen again for me. Overall, it is sweet and smooth and worth a taste to simply ponder what you are drinking. At $130 or so a bottle, it is definitely not worth buying. I have enjoyed many a Japanese whisky but this does not work for me at all.

I really enjoyed this. The barrel is very noticeable with deep sandalwood and no bitterness, balanced well by the maltiness of the grain. There's bright, crisp apple and rich coffee/chocolate notes along with a blueberry/blackberry jam richness that I really enjoyed. Minimal heat finish but with white peppercorns and cinnamon that hangs awhile. It's a clean and light sipper, perfect for a summer night - there is even a spray of beach too it from the wood notes. At around $90 I'd purchase it again. It is an amped-up version of the 10, with more of the Mizunara Oak flavors in an appreciated way, not just over-aged wood. This is my current top Japanese bottle, especially at this price point for the age and use of Mizunara.

Berry and sherry but very mild. Cereal, light nuttiness, and brown sugar. There's nothing special going on here. Even at the reasonable price for a bottle I will still pass.

Big port, rich berry, raisin, creamy nut. Mint dark chocolate finish. Good sipper but not worth a bottle.

It's delicious because it's Lagavulin but there's nothing that really makes it stand out as different. There is a slight creamy, milk chocolate bitterness that is present, especially on the exhale. The Lag meatiness and kipper is way subdued. The smoke is there but it's much more mellow. Essentially, everything is mellowed and that's ok. It's not hot for an 11 and the best part is the finish.

Barrel upfront with some char and dark caramel. There's slight vanilla, nut, and even a bright fruitiness....cherry? The finish is a spiced coffee. Overall, it's worth $60-70 for sure but it's nothing special.

Everyone is always praising Kirkland liquors (vodka, gin, scotch, etc.) and this is my first try...not great. It's super young. It's definitely islay but there's no distinguishing flavor besides "peat" found. And even the peat isn't that great. It's dry, nutty, and ashy. Some time in a barrel with anything to offer would greatly benefit this. Unfortunately, this falls way flat for me. Is it because Islay is my favorite and I've experienced the amazing depth that's offered? I don't think so...I think this just isn't that good.

A friend gave me the kosher rye and wheat to compare. Spoiler alert: I liked the wheat better. This is still really good. It's the standard BT mash, which is always great. There's more of a fruit and slight licorice vibe to go with the honey and vanilla. There is more wood spice than other BT offerings. I like it.

Good stuff. A friend gave me a pour of the wheat and rye to compare. Bright, flavorful, and a tad complex. There's the Weller/BT/Colonel stock there, which is my favorite mash line. This seems to have more wood spice though and less vanilla and honey. It's peachy, cinnamon, and clove. It's also less fruity than others in the line, which is fine with me. Cocoa powder and citrus on the finish. Overall, I like this more than the rye.