Showing posts with label Fujikai 10. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fujikai 10. Show all posts

Miyagikyo 10 Years Review - Fujikai 10 Years Review


“Malts of the Rising Sun”

Whisky Review # 729

Country: Japan
Region: Sendai - Northern Japan
Brand: Miyagikyo
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 10 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 45%
Maturation: Not Available. I would think a mix of Bourbon and Sherry casks.
Chill Filtration: Information Not Available. Probably: Yes
Price Range: US$ 150-200 (May 2018) - Discontinued in 2015
Buying Advice: 😃 Very nice Single Malt. 😡 Negative P/Q ratio.

Colour

Golden Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

Based on the Nose, I suspect some Mizunara casks were used as well. They provide this extra element you only find in Japanese Whiskies. The Sherry Wood is noticeable as well. I find most Japanese Single Malts quite pleasant on the Nose and this Miyagikyo is no exception although it does show its relative youth. The Nose is Light, Sweet, Fruity and Floral. It's kinda like a Bourbon matured in Sherry casks. The Alcohol is nicely integrated.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butterkekse (German Butter Biscuits), Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Yeast, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Dates, Plum Jam, Apple, Banana, Pineapple, Peach, Blueberry Muffins, Orange and Lemon Peel, Nuts (Hazelnut, Cashew), Oak Char, Floral Soap and Cinnamon.      
      
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Honey, Grass, Hay, Caffe Latte, Milk Chocolate, Polished Leather, Dusty Road, Aniseed, Pepper, Wood Glue and Mint. 

Palate:

Bitter Sweet, a bit Sour, Herbal and Dry. A combination of Fruity, Floral, Herbal and Spicy Flavours.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Dried Fruit (Raisins and Prunes), Banana, Pear, Apple, Yeast, Sherry, Orange and Lemon Peel, Charred Oak, Grapes (Wine) Herbal Tea, Cinnamon, Pepper, Licorice and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Almonds, Honey, Milk Chocolate, Caffe Latte, Floral Soap, Dusty Road, Tobacco, Leather, Ginger, Blackberry Muffins and Coconut Milk.

Finish:

Middle-Long. Sweet and Sour. A certain Bitterness arrives towards the dry end. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Grass, Pineapple, Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Apple, Pear, Grapes (Wine), Sherry, Herbal Tea, Tobacco, Charred Oak, Honey, Dusty Road, Caffe Latte, Pepper, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Ginger, Aniseed, Licorice and Mint. A very faint hint of Smoke and a light Metallic note pop up after a few minutes.

Drinking Advice:

Due to the small size of the sample I only tasted this Miyagikyo neat. 

Rating: 85.5 

Nose: 22 - Taste: 21.5 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21.5    

Drinking Experience:

Good.

Conclusion:

The Miyagikyo distillery (Nikka Group) was founded in 1969. In 2015 Nikka discontinued the entire Miyagikyo range (including the 10 Y). It was replaced by one new NAS Expression only.

It's a shame that a lot of Japanese whiskies have become a caricature of their former selves of late due to the high demand. The result: A tsunami of NAS Malts at an absurd price level. Because the Miyagikyo 10 Years shows that Japan can produce very nice Vintage Malts at reasonable prices. This specific Single Malt combines some Bourbon and Speyside elements and although the Malt could have done with a few extra years in the cask, the end result is quite pleasant, especially on the Nose. If this type of Japanese Single Malt would be priced at say 70 US Dollars, it would be a regular in my cabinet. As it stands I fear we have to wait until the hype is over and reason returns to the Malts of the Rising Sun.



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Whisky Review # 730

Country: Japan
Brand: Fujikai
Type: Single Malt Whisky 
Age: 10 Years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation: Bourbon casks
Chill Filtration: Information not available. Probably Yes.  
Price Range: US$ 60-80 (May 2018)
Buying Advice: 😱😷😡 I'm not sure it's good enough to clean your toilet! 

Colour

Dark Gold/Copper (Probably Artificially Coloured).  

Nose:

Very different to say the least. My first, I admit strange, impression was walking into a bicycle repair shop. Sweaty Feet in new running shoes. Not your regular Single Malt Aromas! Quite Sweet and Dusty! This has little to do with Whisky I'm afraid.

Main Aromas:

Adhesive for Bicycle Tires, Glue, Plastic, Acetone, Sweat, Wet Paper, Buttered Toast, Yeast, Toasted Cereals, Plum Obstler (German Fruit Liqueur), Begonias or other House Plants, Dusty Straw and Mint.      

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Pine Needles, Gasoline/Diesel, Salted Caramel, Rotting Vegetables, Vanilla, Worn Leather, Dusty Cellar, Saw Dust, Sour/Rotten Apple, Lemon, Cheap Grappa, Coal Char and Iron.  

Palate:

The Nose was strange but the Palate is rather Nasty. Bitter-Sweet, Sour, Dusty, Musty, Harsh and Dry. 

Main Flavours:

Dirty Factory Smoke, Dirty Earth, Ashed, Rubber, Plastic, Gasoline/Diesel, Tar, Acetone, Cheap Grappa, Rusty Metal, Decomposing Plants/Vegetables, Salted Caramel, Burnt Herbs, Oak Char and Pepper.  

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Sour Apple, Walnuts, Nutshells, Vanilla, Lemon, Sugared Tea and perhaps a hint of Nutmeg.

Finish:

Nasty, Middle-Long, Sharp, Bitter-Sweet, Metallic and Dry. I find Dirty Factory Smoke, Diesel, Plastic, Rubber, Dirty Earth, Cheap Grappa, Pepper, Nutshells, Rotting Wood, Burnt Cereals, Licorice, Aniseed, Walnuts and a hint of Vanilla and Sour Apple.  

Drinking Advice:

I added a few drops of Water and that is a slight improvement. Still I'm glad the Tasting Session is concluded. The remaining half of the sample will go to the kitchen sink I'm afraid. 

Rating: 56    

Nose: 15 - Taste: 14  - Finish: 13 - Overall: 14     

Drinking Experience:

Horrible! 

Conclusion:

The Monde Shuzo distillery was founded in 1952 in Fuefuki, close to Mount Fuji. It produces mostly wine but recently got into a bit of Whisky (Isawa) as well. Riding on the Wave without any doubt. The Fujikai 10 Years is a limited edition of around 8.800 bottles and is distributed by Whiskies du Monde from France. It is not known when this whisky has been distilled.

The bottle is nice. It doesn't look like a Whisky bottle though and that is telling! I must indeed conclude that this has nothing to do with Whisky. At best you could compare it with a very cheap Grappa or Plum Liqueur. Although the latter two might feel abused when I make the comparison. The Fujikai 10 Years is just a horrible excuse for a Whisky. The Nose was very different and in a strange way even remotely interesting. But Palate and Finish are a disaster. This is one of the 4 worst Whiskies I have ever tasted. It's also only the second time that I threw half of the sample in the sink. We can only hope and pray that excesses like this will in the end contribute to a better balance of supply and demand in the Japanese Whisky industry. Kanpai!

Jan van den Ende                                                                     May 14, 2018