Ohishi 10 Year Brandy Cask Whisky

I didn't check before I started typing, but I believe this is my 150th review. Of those reviews, two have been for Japanese whiskies, and that's not because Japanese whiskies are bad or put me off. I can describe my aversion to Japanese whisky with three letters. VFM. It's rarely there. The two I had reviewed have been Nikka from the Barrel which has jumped from $65 to the $75 in the time I've had my focus on it, not bad VFM, but just, there are other things I prefer at the $75 range, and Suntory Toki, which is the budget Japanese whisky and is decent but I don't really go for it when I'm buying budget. Japanese whiskies also remind me a lot of Irish whiskies in that they're light bodied, delicate, most often floral and honeyed. That's not necessarily a bad thing but it's not a main draw for me. I like barrel proof full bodied stuff. I like Islay Scotches. I like cask strength bourbons. I like spicy rye-y ryes. With this, of course, I couldn't resist. The same ol' story: it went on clearance and a $78 10 year brandy barrel finished whisky became a $37.50 whisky. And at that price, I bought four bottles. I hadn't even tasted it yet, but right away, I was almost entirely certain that at that price, I wouldn't mind having four bottles in stock. That night I poured a double Ohishi Brandy Cask 10 Year, and you know what, it's light bodied, floral and fruity and honeyed, and absolutely delightful. Sometimes price matters. Actually, most of the time price factors into enjoyment. And I'm sure the fact it feels like I stole this whisky factors into my enjoyment of it. I also don't know if this is bias creeping in, but the nose itself has a certain savory funk that has a saline umami edge to it, and I'm thinking, do I get that because it's Japanese and I'm expecting it, or is it really there? But I think it's really there, and the brandy aroma is reminiscent in a way of a sweet balsamic reduction with a little pungency but also a sort of heavy fig jam bottom of the jar scraping it off kind of feel. This is definitely unique among whiskies and even unique among my experience with Japanese whisky. And no, I'm not biased, I keep nosing it and there's a slight whiff of soy sauce present in the nose counterbalancing the fruitiness nicely. On the palate the brandy finish hits first followed by pear and green apple. The brandy gives it this golden syrupy type flavor like honey on top of a freshly peeled pear. It's also hard, with this being made of rice, not to feel like there's a sake parallel. You can taste the fact that this is distilled of rice as its grain. And it's quite pleasant. The finish is long medium to medium long and lingers nicely with a coating of ginger on the tongue. Ultimately, I'm not sure how satisfied I would be with this at $78 but for what I got it at, it is really a steal. The recent clearance sale in my state put everything at 50% off and included this, Knob 12, and Glenmorangie X. I got one bottle of the Glenmorangie, three of the Knob (luckily) before it sold out, and four of this. Oddly enough, this isn't flying off the shelves, but I think that's because of people's predilection toward bourbon over Japanese. Honestly, I might go back and get a few more of these while they're there. It's not going to rock your world, but it's a nice change of pace, and it's certainly high quality juice.

Aroma is sweet malt, honey, rice, and walnut. Palate follows nose with a grainy sweetness, lingering ginger, and satisfying dryness.