Yamazaki 18 Year

Rich, sweet nose. The best comparison I could think of is honey butter or butterscotch, where the sweetness was backed by a deep richness. The rich sweetness was backed by a very slight smoky note and a slight fruity note. The palate had a sweet fruity taste at the very beginning, reminiscent of figs. The fruit lingered at the front of the tongue. The whiskey then gave way to a low to medium spiciness, and a wonderful oakiness. This oakiness filled the mouth and was long on the finish. It tasted like the inside of a barrel in the best way - rich, oaky, and sweet. Yet, it was not overpowering. It was very pleasant. The mouth feel was full and oily. Both mouthwatering and mouthcoating. Finish was exceptionally smooth. Comparable only to the pappy 20 and the George t stagg fall 2013 in quality for me.

Smells rich and fruity. Sweet that melts into wood, followed by burn. The richness lets the burn spread, but it's still a little too much bite for me. I get peach up front, cherries at the end. Honey sweetness too. Very good.

Tried this beaut at the Hibiya bar in Ginza. Wonderful stuff.

Nose has fruit and sweetness, reminiscent of a caramel apple. Taste has some smoke and oak, but more fruits that I can’t quite put my finger on. No real alcohol taste or burn. Finish has fruit and smoke. Absolutely delicious.