Yamazaki Limited Edition 2015

A rich, blended single malt distilled & aged at Yamazaki, the very first malt distillery of Japan. A Sherry, Port & Bourbon cask extravaganza, some single malts aged for over 20 years in Sherry Casks, & some "Young Talents" single malts aged in Bourbon Barrels. It opens with notes of passion fruit & strawberry, while the palate is sweet & jammy adding notes of oak, while finish is long & complex with notes of honey, licorice, tea & tropical fruits. September 2017 / April / August 2018 / July 2022

Nice young American oak flavor profile with hints of berries and Sakura. Nose: Raisins, Sandalwood, Honey, Cranberries, Sakura, Bananas, Walnuts, Oranges, Melons, Mint Chocolate, Blackberries, Rasberries, Almonds, White Chocolate Palate: Honey, Oranges, Apricots, Caramel, Milk Chocolate, Strawberries, Sakura, Chili Pepper, Sandalwood, Cloves, Vanilla, Cherries, Raspberries, Walnuts Finish: Raisins, Espresso, Honey, Oranges, Vanilla, Mocha, Smoke, Cloves, Licorice, Strawberries, Apricots, Bananas, Coconuts

Prices for Japanese whiskies have skyrocketed in recent years, and bottles like the Yamazaki Limited Edition have become as rare as hen's teeth. On the nose, there is a complex bouquet of lush sherry notes, delicate spices and juicy fruits. Sandalwood, incense and hints of matcha interweave with leather, melon and distant plum liqueur. Feisty and aromatic in the arrival, the taste turns fruity-sweet and gingery in the development, always in perfect balance. Cherries, prunes and mild tannins remain in the finish. A great malt, but heavily overpriced. RATING: 4.2/5.0 stars ≙ 89 pts → FIRST-CLASS [+]

the aging in oak was very pronounced.