Shinobu Mizunara Oak Finish Blended Whisky

Tasted a sampler. Nose: Sherry-forward. Bright, nutty, earthy, and slightly sweet. Plum wine, mushroom, lemon zest are upfront. Fresh green apple, caramel, and vanilla are subtle in the background. Palate: Notable sherry influence but not quite a sherry monster. Nutty, some brininess, light notes of white pepper on the entry. Caramel and citrus notes develop later. Later sips reverses the order with the citrus notes more upfront and the nuttiness following right behind. Finish continues on the sherry notes with some peat (smoky and briny) with light peppery spice. Not bad and has some interesting notes with the sherry and peat flavors intermingling. The sherry influence is oddly overpowering, though the sherry flavors don't quite reach the levels of other sherry monsters, which I feel is a shame given the other casks that have gone into this.

Smooth and tasty - scotch (whisky) through and through

Sweet but smooth. Has an almost sake or tequila after taste

Sweet forward. Most likely better for a mixing whiskey.

Smooth but spicey

Typical sweet malt on the nose. I get stone fruits, the Mizunara casks have some nice spice. Finish fades quick.