Must Try

Kamiki Maltage Whisky

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

Kamiki Maltage Whisky
Blended Malt Whisky Finished in Cedar Casks

48% ABV
$79
Website
Kamiki Whisky
We would like to thank Kamiki Whisky for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

KAMIKI WHISKY | Perfectly balanced with heather honey, sweet caramel, Japanese plum, balanced oak, peat and toffee with hints of sandalwood and green tea. Non chill-filtered at 48% alcohol to keep its natural flavors at maximum. Blended at its peak flavor, rather than a predetermined ratio. As a result, each batch is unique and limited with stocks.

OUR WHISKY | We wanted to celebrate the timeless alcohol tradition of the region by blending a Japanese style whisky that harmonizes Japanese nature and artisanship.

OUR BLEND | We choose rare Japanese malt whiskies, finest malt whiskies from the rest of the world and fuse this unique blend with the highest quality pure spring water from Japan.

OUR UNIQUE SECOND MATURATION | Yoshino Sugi, most commonly known in English as the “Japanese Cedar” is indigenous to Japan. For centuries it is being used to make temples. Japanese Cedar is also known for its pleasant fragrance and soft texture that help calm the mind and the body.

OUR CITY | Our story takes place in a truly ancient land, one of spiritual and carnal harmony, in the temples of Nara in Japan.
The ancient capital of Japan, Nara holds many temples from the 8th century that imperturbably give the holy capital its power.

OUR SHRINE | Ōmiwa Shrine in Nara is one of Japan’s oldest extant Shinto shrines. It is a tutelary shrine of the Japanese alcohol producers. Most well-known alcohol producer families are in Nara and these families have a centuries-old tradition of producing alcohol for Ōmiwa.
The alcohol produced by these families is served as blessings at Shinto temples.

OUR NAME | The Ōmiwa Shrine lies at the foot of Mount Miwa, a holy mountain guarded by the shrine. Mount Miwa has many legends, and has been worshiped from ancient times as a sacred Mountain of the God.
Inspired by beautiful breezes coming from the Mountain of the God, we named our whisky KAMIKI whereby “KAMI” means “GOD” and “IKI” means “BREATH”.

KAMIKI IS THE “THE FIRST WHISKY BRAND IN THE WORLD WITH JAPANESE CEDAR CASK FINISH” | Yoshino Sugi is considered to be the best wood for making local drink casks because of its scented refreshing flavor and wooden aroma. Our blend is rested for a second time in Yoshino Sugi casks to capture a perfectly smooth taste, a scent of sandalwood on the nose and a zest of green tea in the finish. This second maturation makes our whisky unique.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Green tea, cedar, buttered yeast rolls, honey, sandalwood and heather.
Palate:  Sweet and thick, plum, green tea, nutty toffee, a hint of banana nut bread.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with pepper and green tea.
Comments:  The palate on this reminds me a bit of plum wine (not that they’d be confused for one another, but definitely a similar sweetness). Another first for me – cedar casks, which definitely lent some lovely aromatics and complexity. This sample was from Batch No 002 (2019.05), and the label indicates it contains caramel color and is non-chill filtered. I’m not a fan of artificial coloring in whisk(e)y, but appreciate that it is called out on the label. Of the 5 Japanese whiskies I reviewed this season, this was by far my favorite – and I’d consider it a Must Try for enthusiasts looking for unique and different experiences. Again, appreciate the higher ABV and non-chill filtration. One package offering includes a masu cup and eye mask, which they recommend you to pour Kamiki in the cup (which to someone not familiar looks like a small wooden box), cover your eyes with the mask, breath deeply and imagine yourself in a cedar forest in Japan before you taste the whisky slowly and mindfully. I tried this, and the masu cup had a significant impact on the nosing experience – and really did bring out the cedar and other forest aromas. Sipping from the square cup wasn’t as nice (you need to point a corner towards your mouth, or learn as I did that your mouth may not be as wide as the opening!) More importantly, I didn’t get a lot of difference on the palate, but the nosing experience was night and day.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Little Book Chapter 4: Lessons Honored

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Little Book Chapter 4: Lessons Honored
Blended Straight Whiskey

61.4% ABV
$125
Website
Little Book Chapter 04 Lessons Honored
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Little Book Chapter 4: “Lessons Honored,” is the fourth chapter in 8th Generation Beam Distiller Freddie Noe’s acclaimed Little Book Whiskey annual release series. This year’s release honors the man who taught Freddie some of life’s most important lessons — his dad and Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, Fred Noe.

Little Book Chapter 4: “Lessons Honored,” is an ode to what Fred has taught Freddie through the years, and the lessons that have been passed down through the generations of the Beam family. Integrity, remaining true to himself, patience and knowing when to slow down are just some of the lessons that have made Freddie who he is today, both as a man and as 8th Generation Beam
Distiller.

Each annual release of Little Book features a different blend of uncut and unfiltered liquid streams carefully chosen by Freddie Noe himself and meticulously blended until it meets his vision. Little Book Chapter 4 is composed of three liquids that have a special connection to Fred and the lessons instilled by him.

Blend Components:
4-year-old Kentucky Straight Brown Rice Bourbon delivers more complex notes of oak and fruit. It’s a very approachable liquid that gives the final blend a noteworthy quality.
8-year-old Kentucky Straight “high rye” Rye Whiskey lends complex, sweet flavors from its time in the barrel paired with a rye spiciness that lingers into the blend’s finish.
7-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey anchors the unconventional flavors from the rye and brown rice liquids with a depth of character representative of the Small Batch Bourbon
Collection.

Tasting Notes: Little Book Chapter 4: “Lessons Honored” features flavors of full-bodied vanilla balanced by notes of rich charred wood and dried cherries. The finish is soft and decadent, leaving a warm caramel taste on your tongue, followed by a spicy finish from the rye.

Sipping Suggestions: Little Book Chapter 4: “Lessons Honored” is best enjoyed neat or over ice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich caramel, nutmeg, vanilla, oak, orange zest, note of peanut butter cookies, touch of dried mint.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, sweet with chocolate covered black cherries, caramel, spicy with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, peanut butter, honey and a bit of mint.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with caramel spices.
Comments:  I really love the nose on this – reminds me a lot of Knob Creek with a twist. The palate is really sweet with spice notes – not syrupy but close (which I like my bourbon on the sweeter side).  Bit of water doesn’t hurt it – in fact I think it shines. I wish I had some Little Book Chapter 3 to compare it to, not that it is a competition. Mint is a different note I’m not accustomed to from Beam, but it goes well.  While each release/chapter is a unique take, they’re all done really well.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

61.9% ABV
$200
Website
Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey is a cask strength limited release created for the most discerning connoisseurs and collectors. The first ultra-premium offering in the Hochstadter’s portfolio, it is unfiltered, undiluted and full-flavored at 123.8 proof, delivering an intense explosion of robust rye flavor.

Made from 100 percent farm-grown rye grain and aged 16 years in newly charred American Oak Barrels, this rare and bold offering is sourced from Alberta Distillers Limited and bottled at cask strength in Philadelphia, PA. The end result is unfiltered, undiluted and full-flavored, delivering an intense explosion of robust rye flavor.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Lovely! Oak with tobacco, baking spices – clove, soft cinnamon and a bit of anise, toffee, dried mint, cherries, nutmeg, toasted orange zest, sandalwood, notes of pine, lemongrass, and walnuts.
Palate:  Warm baking spices of clove, cinnamon, citrus zip, vanilla, oak, bit of ginger, mint; some water thickens the mouthfeel and brings out more mint, vanilla, and cherries.
Finish:  Long, drying with fruit, pepper, and herbal spices.
Comments:  This is a phenomenal, well aged rye. I’ve been blessed to have enjoyed some unicorn ryes (Black Maple Hill 18yr old, Doug’s Green Ink 22yr Willet), and I’m not saying that this is exactly like those – but it definitely reminded me that sort of experience. 16 years is a long time in new oak for a whiskey. I tend to not prefer bourbon or rye that old, as it has just too much oak in many cases. This isn’t too oaky, and has a lovely balance of the sweetness with some herbal, almost savory spice notes. The $200 price tag is the only thing that keeps this from a solid ‘Must Buy’ in my book, although after tasting this sample – I absolutely am going to buy a bottle.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

49.3% ABV
$100
Website
High West Midwinter Nights Dram

What the Producer Says

A limited release of High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels.

Straight Rye Whiskey:
95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD

Barrel Type(s): Aged in new, charred, white American oak and finished in French oak port barrels
Filtration: Not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Cinnamon rhubarb and plum pie, Orange Jaffa cake, star anise, cedar box, toasted pecan with dates
Taste: Black cherry reduction, molasses, birch root, fig jam, and ginger bread
Finish: Spiced clove and blackberries, candied ginger, wooden spice box, orange peel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Christmas spice, orange blossom,  freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle notes of baked apples and raisins, hint of wintergreen mint, eucalyptus, and toasted oak.
Palate:  Warn and spicy, caramel fudge, rye zip, cinnamon, orange zest, nutmeg, bit of pepper spice, mint, and a hint of a sherry note.
Finish:  Moderately long with dried mint and vanilla.
Comments:  I was fortunate enough to have two samples of this from different batches (Act 4, Scene 2 & Act 7, Scene 2). I thought “Great, I can do a side-by-side comparison!” but honestly – they were incredibly similar. After three blind tastings, I opted to scrap the idea as the very subtle differences could have been simply expecting there must be a difference. And they weren’t consistent (I thought one had a slightly better finish, but then the next tasting thought it was the opposite!). I can’t say there isn’t any difference from batch to batch, but at least for these two – it was so subtle that if you liked one, I wouldn’t be worried about whether you’d like the other. All that said, this is a really nice dram! It is definitely rye whiskey, but different (for starters, I don’t get any dill or pickle juice notes which are common in many MGP ryes).  The French oak port barrel finishing is done really well, giving it a different spice and fruit characteristic.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$150
Website
Old Fitzgerald 15 yr Bottled In Bond Fall 2019

What the Distillery Says

OLD FITZGERALD BOTTLED-IN-BOND
Each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950’s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to “Pappy” Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.

15-Year-Old Tasting Notes
Color: Rich mahogany
Nose: Complex, very spicy for a Wheated Bourbon
Taste: Starts with the spices that were in the nose but becomes soft and gentle with honey and cake notes. Vanilla and oak follow with a delicious caramel tail.
Finish: Warm, long, sweet

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly baked coffee cake with vanilla frosting, cinnamon, toffee, oak, caramel, mint, leather.
Palate:  Creamy sweet, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, baking spices, honey, mint, oak.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering baking spices.
Comments:  This has more of a bit than I expected, but letting it sit in the glass for 15 – 20 minutes really did wonders. I had a bit of a sample of Old Fitzgerald 11 yr Bottled in Bond that I compared this against, and while not a huge oak fan – I preferred this easily. More richness and depth of sweetness, and the oak is there but pretty gentle for its age. These are always pricey, but in the current market, not outrageous (and the decanter is really nice, if you like that sorta thing).

Rating: Must Try

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