Japanese Blended Whisky #1 21 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Batch 3, can stack up with Hibiki/Tsuru/Taketsuru 17+ year in a blind tasting. Nose: Vanilla, Raisins, Honey, Sandalwood, Ginger, Oranges, Sakura, Banana Bread, Coconuts, Almonds Palate: Honey, Dark Chocolate, Raisins, Almonds, Coconuts, Raisins, Pineapples, Milk Chocolate, Coffee, Banana Bread, Raspberries, Strawberries, Cookie Dough Finish: Honey, Vanilla, Oranges, Raisins, Cherries, Walnuts, Ginger, Coffee, Cherries, Strawberries

Dry, medicinal, woody with a touch of peat. Wouldn't buy again.

Nose: dry red wine, dark sugar, like a baking ingredient drawer. Some very light must, tiniest bit of sherry nuttiness. Smells rich but subdued, dry and earthy. Palate: Oaky on the first taste, some vanilla and toffee and light pepper. Just malty enough, then flavours like you get in those savory/sweet cakes like carrot. Nuttiness comes back. That rich but subdued idea carries through to the palate - dark and chocolatey but not cloying, just enough bitterness to balance it out. Finish: oaky, a little bit of spice. Some dark chocolate bitterness and rounded moments. Overall: Such a well-balanced whisky. Perfect amount of bitterness and sweetness, with a nice long finish. Familiar oaky flavours that are leveled out in a great way. Maybe 21 year old whiskies are the way to go, because the Glenfarclas was also super well-balanced in a similar way!

There is always the assumption in the back of my mind that unless it's an actual Japanese distillery official release and it's an age that's less than the distillery has been open i.e. most likely not sourced, then it's a good chance it isn't Japanese. Now TBWC not being a Japanese label should mean by declaring it's a 'Japanese' it actually is and all the internet chatter believes it to be true so it most likely is. One person thought Yamazakura, another translated the Japanese inscription which included reference to Bamboo and the only distillery with that referenced in the name is Taketsuru.. so they deduce it's that or Nikka. They also amazingly had a bottle of the 21 which as of this month has been announced will be discontinued and drank side by side (must have a damn deep collection!) and believed it to be similar. The Taketsuru range is a blend of blend of malt whiskies produced at Nikka's Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. So that makes sense although why they would serve up stock to TBWC if they are running low doesn't..although if they were thinking of discontinuing then maybe it does..I think I'm going to much down a rabbit hole which may even be the wrong one! It's not a bad drop. Creme brulee, vanilla, banana, slightly bitter wood. The finish is short ethanolly. Definitely not worth the price of a couple few hundred usd though.