Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve

Compared to the Yamazaki 12 yo, it is a far less complex and interesting dram. Higher sweetness of barley sugar and vanilla icing, tasted more like the Chita grain alcohol. Less fruits and no nice oak finish. I’d rather have one Yamazaki 12 than 2 of these much younger versions.

It really does smell nice- honey, yes strawberries, and a fresh, clean wood. From there it takes a bit of a step downwards for me. It's nice- smooth, spicy, very faint peat. I'm pretty green, so maybe it's too subtle for me just yet...I could smell it all day though. 3 1/2 (mainly for the aroma)