There’s a lot to like about this unusual Japanese whisky, from the neat, understated pink label to the rich honey colour and the enticing sweet aroma. It IS quite a bit like bourbon though, in a good way: the corn dominance means the flavour leads with warm Demerara and vanilla that’s strongly reminiscent of American drams. As it unfolds, on the other hand, surprising notes of stone fruit, ethanol (unexpected at 45%) and, yes, cinnamon take this whisky somewhere quite new. At nearly CAD100, it seems over-priced (as Japanese offerings often are) but it’s tasty and intriguing nonetheless.