2010

Hibiki 12 Year Old

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Hibiki 12 Year Old Blended Japanese Whisky
43% ABV
$65
Available in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.

What the Distillery Says:
Malt whiskies matured 12 years or longer are perfectly matched with mellow grain whiskies of the same age to create this HIBIKI offering. Also included is some whisky from casks formerly used in long-term aging of Japanese plum liqueur, which helps bring out the sweet floral notes on the nose and palate that Suntory whisky is known for. Adding venerable malt aged more than 30 years further brings out the bouquet and adds body to the palate. At a turning point marking the 20th anniversary of HIBIKI, this new offering brings together all of Suntory’s whisky making expertise and blending craftsmanship for whisky enthusiasts around the world.

Tasting Notes
Brilliant amber in color. A fruity bouquet, followed by sweet honey and custard cream. On the palate, a soft and mellow sweetness makes this a whisky one can also enjoy straight. A long finish, with subtle tartness and a spicy bouquet.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Perfume and wild flowers with notes of ripe plums and nectarines. Water opens up the nose. I don’t get anything new but everything is more pronounced.
Palate: Not as sweet on the palate as the nose would suggest. There aren’t any flavors that jump out but instead all flow together seamlessly. Not a dram for water, it flattens it out.
Finish: The finish is velvety and leave only hints of the palate. Very clean. Water make the finish all but disappear.
Comments: This is what a blend should taste like. Everything marries very well and plays off each other. This is a very balanced and easy to drink whisky. It’s dangerously easy to drink. This is the kind of whisky you could got through half a bottle and not even realize it until you tried to stand up. I don’t have as much experience with Japanese blends but if they come like this then bring on more!
Rating: Stands out

What Matt Says:
Nose: Bubblegum (more like the flavored fluoride at the dentist’s office than the real thing) and grain spirit (like moonshine).
Palate: Sweet without being too caramel-like, bubbly and viscous, wickedly smooth.  So balanced that individual flavors are hard to define.
Finish: Like oiled silk.
Comments: Water does nothing for or against this whisky.  I love the plum wine influence.  Redefines smooth.  Plus, the packaging is beautiful.  I’m with Richard, more Japanese blends please.
Rating: Stands Out

Overall Rating: Stands Out

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Yamazaki 12 Year Old

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Yamazaki 12 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky
43% ABV
$40
Available in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.

What the Distillery Says:
This is a medium-bodied whisky with the aromas of dried fruits and honey. It has a delicate, mellow taste with a lingering, woody, dry finish.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Initial agitation brings floral-fruity sweetness. As the whisky settles the nose becomes a little more wooded but still mellow and pleasant. Water seems to dull the nose.
Palate: Very light and aperitif-like initially but the smokiness comes in on the palate before the finish. Crisp and lightly sweet, it is reminiscent of scotch while being something else entirely. Water makes the palate flow more continuously but it also takes out some of the flavors.
Finish: The finish is my least favorite component. It’s a little too oaky and peppery. However, the cure for that is to drink more.
Comments: This was my first foray into Japanese a few years ago. Japanese whisky is a spectacular group that is amazingly diverse and shows great ingenuity. The 12 Year Old is not my favorite but it makes a good transition malt for scotch drinkers.
Rating: Stands out, Great Value

What Matt Says:
Nose: Green apples, pears, and wild flowers. With water burnt sugar also comes out.
Palate: Warming and viscous, cherry cough drops, German chocolate cake, and oak resin. With water the apples and pears also come out.
Finish: Not too long, not too short. I get more from the sherry influence than expected with rich dark berry flavors.
Comments: This easily stands out against Glenlivet and Glenfiddich 12 and it’s more approachable than Glenmorangie Original.
Rating: Stands Out

Overall Rating: Stands Out

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Turning Japanese…

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Richard's Blog

Pardon the pun in the title. It was just too easy.

This past Friday and Saturday the Apostles were co-located in the same place for the first time since WhiskyFest NYC 2009. To celebrate we did what you would expect…drank whiskey! We did a lot of tasting and a catching up but we also got some site-related work done too. Matt was kind enough to bring me a bottle of the Hibiki 12 Year Old (sorry, still not available in Atlanta) so we decided a Japanese tasting was in order. We tasted three of the only four Japanese whiskies currenlty available in the States. Unfortunately, the Yamazaki 1984 is a little out of my price range at the moment. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be posting reviews of the Yamazaki 12, Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki 12. I should have the first review up tomorrow so check back soon!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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New U.S. Releases – March ‘10

/ / Bourbon, Other Whisk(e)ys, Scottish Whisky

Wow…here we are almost half way through April and I haven’t posted the March new release roundup. Many apologies for this oversight. I’m a new dad which is a constant source of distraction and on top of that there was a death in my family last week. Regardless, there were a number of intriguing March announcements in the whiskey world. Here’s what we heard about.

Amrut Indian Whisky
Timeframe: April 2010
There are a host of Amurt whiskies coming stateside in April. They should be in New York and New Jersey first and then trickle into Chicago, Kentucky, and Massachusetts by mid-April. Of all the ones we tried at WFNYC 2009 the Fusion was our favorite.

Amrut Single Malt Whisky
Amrut Peated Single Malt Whisky
Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky
Amrut Peated Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky
Amrut Fusion Whisky

Crown Royal Black
Timeframe: April
ABV: 45%
Price: $30
This is supposed to be a higher proof and more robust Crown with deeper bourbon notes. I’m not a huge CR fan but they’ve peaked my interest. I guess I’m going to have to start buying Canadian too.

Four Roses 100th Anniversary 17 Year Old
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 55%
Price: $75
My growing adoration for Four Roses is nearing Buffalo Trace level fervor. Mr. Rutledge is making great Kentucky bourbon with Japanese ingenuity. This is on my short list.

Glen Garioch
Timeframe: Spring 2010
Glen Garioch had revamped their range and a new Founder’s Reserve and 12 Year Old should be coming soon to a market near you. I tried them both at the SMSW Extravaganza last month and was pleased with what I tasted.

The Dalmore Mackenze
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 46%
Price: TBD
This was launched on March 17th and we posted Dalmore’s release at the time but I’m still waiting on U.S. information on distribution and pricing. There are only 3,000 bottles worldwide so it will be limited.

Seagram’s Dark Honey
Timeframe: Now
ABV: 35.5%
Price: $16.99
Seagram’s is throwing their hat into the continuing flood of new whiskey-type releases following Wilde Turkey American Honey and Jim Beam Red Stagg.

That’s what I heard about last month. If you heard anything that I missed then please shoot me an email. On a positive note, the Apostles will be together in Atlanta this weekend. We might even get some site-related work done between drams. Stay tuned for new reviews!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Buffalo Trace Releases Canadian Whisky?

/ / Matt's Blog, Other Whisk(e)ys

Straight on the heels of Richard’s momentous discovery that Buffalo Trace is now available in Atlanta, John Hansell breaks news that the Sazerac Company (makers of Buffalo Trace and countless other fine spirits) will have two new Canadian whiskies on store shelves by the end of the month.  How can an American distillery release a Canadian whisky, you may be asking.  Well, the answer is simple.  The Sazerac Company acquired some Canadian whisky stocks (no word on the source) and now they are making them available.  I have to say that I’m torn about this news.  As you well know, Richard and I are not huge fans of Canadian-style whiskies.  The only Canadian whisky we really enjoy comes from Forty Creek which is hardly Canadian-style despite meeting all the requirements to be called “Canadian Whisky.”  We are however, fans of Buffalo Trace Distillery on a level bordering religious zealotry.  So, we have to give these a try.  The two whiskies will be Caribou Crossing Single Barrel ($49.99) and Royal Canadian Small Batch ($29.99).  For the full press release and some pictures (including the ridiculously campy Caribou Crossing bottle), check out WDJK.  Some of you may have also noticed that Crown Royal announced a new expression recently (Crown Royal Black).  We will try that one at some point too.  I’m all for the idea of a bolder/richer Canadian whisky.  It certainly can’t get less bold…

Drink well, drink responsibly.

Matt

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