Aberlour A' Bunadh Alba Review

“On the Road To Find Out”

Whisky Review # 881

Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside

Brand: Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Batch 01

Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 57,1% (Cask Strength)
Maturation: First-Fill Ex-Bourbon Casks
Chill Filtration: No

Sample provided by Mauricio from Brazil. Many Thanks!

Price Range: US$ 70-90 (June 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😐Borderline okay at US$ 70. It's a Young Whisky after all!
Buying Advice: 😐Interesting experience. I will wait for a mature Alba though!

Colour: Chardonnay (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Young and Sweet. Loads of Vanilla from the First-Fill casks. Lots of Fruit reminding of New Make Spirit. Some Floral and Dairy aspects as well. The Alcohol is quite present but that's no surprise given the high ABV. A little bit of Varnish and Acetone in the background.

Main Aromas:

Barley Sugar, Vanilla, Buttered Bread, Citrus Peel (Orange, Mandarin, Lemon), Yogurt with Tropical Fruit Flavors, Apple, Pear, Grass, Floral Soap, Fresh Wood and Wood-Shavings, Raisins, Caffe Latte, Cinnamon, Pepper and Nutmeg.
    
Supportive Aroma Accents:

Caramel, Toffee, Heather-Honey, Yeast, Dusty Earth, Forrest Floor, Bounty Candy Bar, Nougat, Ginger, Mint, Varnish and Acetone.

Palate:

Young, Nervous, mainly Sweet and slightly Hot. You would never recognize this as an Aberlour in a Blind Tasting. One of the Young NAS Glenlivet Malts came to mind. The Alcohol is really strong, almost in an uncomfortable way. This needs a bit of Water.

Main Flavours:

Barley Sugar, Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Apple-Strudel, Yogurt with Tropical Fruit Flavors (Mango, Pineapple, Papaya), Citrus Peel (Orange, Mandarin, Lemon), Red Berries, Coconut, Grass, Oak, Pepper, Ginger, Caffe Latte and Tobacco.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Buttered Bread, Toffee, Caramel, Butter Biscuits, Nougat, Dusty Earth, Cinnamon, Mint, Nutmeg, Acetone and Tin cans.

Finish:

Middle-Long and Bitter-Sweet. Medium-Dry. The Alcohol is ever present and a bit on the Hot side. It's all a bit off-balance and under-matured. I find Sweet Barley, Nuts and Nutshells, Brown Sugar, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Buttered Bread, Grass, Dusty Earth, Floral Soap, Stewed Apples and Pears, Citrus Peel, Caffe Latte, Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Menthol, Milk Chocolate and Tobacco.

Drinking Advice:

I added a bit of Water and that helps calm down the Alcohol. I get Breakfast Cereals with Assorted (Tropical) Fruits and Nuts on the Nose. Quite a lot of Barley and Vanilla as well. Palate and Finish benefit as well but to a lesser extend. The Alcohol remains very strong. You can add more Water of course but that kills this Aberlour. But a few carefully added drops really help in this case.

Rating: 83.5

Nose: 21 - Taste: 21  - Finish: 20.5  - Overall: 21

Drinking Experience Neat: Good but the ABV is simply too high.

Conclusion:

The Aberlour distillery was founded in1879 by James Fleming and is located in the little village of the same name in Banffshire, Speyside. Since 2001 it is owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard). The capacity of Aberlour is around 3,8 million litres per year. The core range includes the 12,16 and 18 Years as well as the A'Bunadh and the Casg Annamh.

The Alba is both named after Scotland & the type of White Oak used for maturation. (Quercus Alba). A'Bunadh means The Original by the way. This is of course not the first time that Aberlour experiences with Ex-Bourbon casks but this seems to be the first serious attempt to try and avoid the ever more serious lack of authentic and very expensive Ex-Sherry casks. You can season any Wood with Sherry or Sherry By-Product of course but that's certainly not the same thing. It's only natural that Aberlour is looking more serious to Ex-Bourbon casks. And I would urge them to continue to do so as it seems an interesting path to follow. My only argument would be to extend the maturation time as this Alba smells and tastes way too Young. A high ABV can't hide this I'm afraid. If Aberlour succeeds in producing well-matured Ex-Bourbon cask Single Malt Whisky I predict that would be a huge success. I would not be surprised if Macallan would be one of the few, if not the only one, who would use Ex-Sherry casks on a large scale in 10 years or so. Unless Sherry becomes very popular again of course. Let's wait and see!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                          June 29, 2020

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2014

Highland Park Valkyrie Review

“Okay is Not Good Enough for Odin’s Hall of Fame”

Whisky Review # 880

Country: Scotland
Region: Highlands - Islands - Orkney

Brand: Highland Park Valkyrie

Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 45.9%
Maturation: Ex-Bourbon Casks and American/European Sherry-Seasoned Oak
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Range: US$ 60-80 (June 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Young and Thin. Don't let the seductive hype fool you!
Buying Advice: 😐 It's okay but you're better of with the core range!

Colour:

Amber (Natural Colour)

Nose:

Quite Young and on the Thin side. The Alcohol is noticeable. The Orkney Peat is there but stays nicely in the background. There's a bit of Sherry influence in the form of Dried Fruit. Together with Dark Berries, light Spices and Straw they are the main components of the Nose. Not unpleasant but nothing special as well.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Heather-Honey, Straw/Grass, Cold Smoke, Dusty Earth, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricots, Red Berries, Citrus Peel, Milk Chocolate, Dried Herbs, Mint, Nutmeg and Tobacco.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Slightly Burnt Toast, Butterscotch, Toffee, Vanilla, Salted Butter, Cooked Apple, Mandarin, Toasted Pineapple, Candied Almonds, Cinnamon, Ginger, Pepper, Clove and Leather. There are some distant hints of Floral Soap and a Butcher Shop.

Palate:

Thin mouthfeel. The overall Thin feeling of the Valkyrie is without any doubt the main flaw of this Highland Park despite the higher ABV & the increased percentage of peated Malt. The Palate and also the Finish basically follow the Nose so it's quite consistent in this respect. Mainly Sweet with a few light Bitter and Sour notes.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Heather-Honey, Grass & Straw, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricot, Red Berries, Cooked Apple, Citrus Peel, Dusty Earth, Cold Smoke, Leather, Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Licorice and Mint.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Slightly Burnt Toast, Ashes, Smoked Ham, Iodine, Wood Shavings, Tobacco, Iron, Fresh Coriander, Salted Almonds, Cloves, Curry and Cardamom.

Finish:

Middle-Long and mainly Sweet. The high ABV and the increased amount of peated Malt can't hide the fact that we are talking about a Young Single Malt. A light Bitterness towards the Dry end. It remains a bit on the Thin side. The Alcohol is quite noticeable and even a little Hot at times. I find Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Heather-Honey, Grass and Straw, Cold Smoke and Dusty Earth, Ashes, Red Berries, Dried Fruit like Raisins, Plums and Apricot, Citrus Peel, Cooked Apple, Cocoa Powder, Licorice, Pepper, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Mint, Leather, Tobacco and Wood Shavings.

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Valkyrie. It's Thin enough as it is.

Rating: 84

Nose: 21 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21

Drinking Experience Neat: Thin but Okay

Conclusion:

The distillery was founded in 1798 by David Robertson. It is located in the small town of Kirkwall on the isle of Orkney.  Orkney is still quite strongly influenced by its Viking past and the distillery has increasingly used this past as a rather successful marketing tool. Highland Park currently produces around 2.5 million litres of Alcohol & is owned since 1997 by the Edrington Group. The core range basically consists of the 10 years (Viking Scars), the 12 years (Viking Honour), the 18 years (Viking Pride), the 25, 30 and 40 years.

The Viking Legend Series consists of the Valkyrie, the Valknut and the Valhalla, made in partnership with Danish designer Jim Lyngvild who was responsible for the bottle and box design. The Valkyrie is made with 50% peated Malt. According to legend, Valkyries would plunge down from the skies on horse back to look for the bravest dead warriors in order to take them to Valhalla, the great hall of the Norse God Odin. Valkyrie was launched in 2017.

We visited Highland Park in May last year and I really enjoyed the visit despite the terrible weather. Orkney is a special place and I understand the tradition and the bond with the Viking ancestors. It's such a pity that the distillery distorts this picture with the series of mediocre and expensive "Cult" Single Malts they have released over the last 10 years or so. If they would just make one great standard line-up of good whiskies of different age and maturation and link each of them to the Viking Legend that would really represent the character of the Whisky I would be their greatest fan. For instance Odin for their masterpiece and Thor for their strongest/peatiest Malt. Instead we have to live with expressions like the Valkyrie which is not really bad but expensive and way too Young and Thin to be allowed to enter Odin's Hall of Fame. It's a pity!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                           June 22,2020

All pictures were taken during our visit in May 2019

Johnnie Walker 18 Years Review

“Who’s Johnnie”

Whisky Review # 879

Country: Scotland

Brand: Johnnie Walker

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
Age: 18 Years

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Probably a Mix of Ex-Bourbon Casks and some Sherried Wood
Chill Filtration: Yes
Price Ratio : US$ 55-75 (June 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 😀Okay if you can get it at around US$ 50
Buying Advice: 😑It's okay but Black and Green have a better P/Q ratio.

Colour:

Rich Amber (Artificially Coloured)

Nose:

It's a pity that even the higher-end JW Blends are bottled at 40%. The 18 Years at least requires 43% and probably a bit more. As it is the initial feeling on the Nose is a bit Weak and Thin. It's not bad but just too Light. The Grain Alcohol is notable of course but in a Softer way. The Nose is basically Sweet with Fruits, Cereals and Caramel in the lead.

Main Aromas:

Soft Cereals, lightly Salted Caramel, Butterscotch, Apple-Strudel, Apricot-filled Puff Pastry, Citrus Peel (Orange, Lemon, Mandarin), Oak, Ginger, Cinnamon and Floral notes.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Sweet Barley, Toast, Heather-Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Toasted Pineapple, Herbal Tea, Mint, Maraschino Cherries, Banana Yogurt. In the distant background a little Smoke, Earth, Ashes and Varnish.

Glen Elgin

Palate:

A bit on the Thin side again due to the low ABV. The Palate is quite Clean without any off-notes. The Grain Alcohol is more noticeable here than on the Nose. The Palate is Sweet with a very light Bitter touch for balance. Soft Spices enter as well.

Main Flavours:

Soft Cereals, Sweet Barley, Salted Caramel, Wax, Apple-Strudel, Apricot/Peach filled Puff Pastry, Citrus Peel (Orange, Mandarin), Charred Oak, Pepper, Cinnamon and Ginger.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Heather-Honey, Toffee, Vanilla, Salted Butter, Plum Jam, Salted Almonds/Peanuts, Herbal Tea, Mint, Dusty Earth, Smoke and Orange-Flavoured Dark Chocolate.

Finish:

Middle-Long and (almost Sugary) Sweet. There's more Spice in the Finish and the Grain Alcohol is more noticeable here. I find Toasted Cereals, Sweet Barley, Salty Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Butterscotch, Heather-Honey, Floral notes, Citrus Peel, Nuts, Fruit Cake, Charred Oak, Pepper, Orange-Flavoured Chocolate, Cinnamon, Ginger, Mint and hints of Smoke, Dusty Earth and Varnish. Medium-Dry.

Auchroisk

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and on the Nose the Malt advances with a clear nod to the Cardhu Distillery. The Grain Alcohol & Pepper become more evident in the Finish. I prefer it Neat but you can certainly play with a few drops here.

Rating: 84

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 20.5 - Overall: 21

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Drinking Experienceon the Rocks: Good

Conclusion:

The Pursuit of the Ultimate 18 Year Old Blend is the full name of this 18 year old Blend of up to 18 different Grain/Malt Whiskies prepared by Jim Beveridge, Master Blender at Diageo. The basis is Speyside with Malts like Cardhu, Glen Elgin and Auchroisk. It is enhanced by Highland Malts like Blair Athol & a bit of Smoky Island Malt, probably Talisker. This 18 year old is in the fact the revived Platinum that received new packaging, name and bottle. It's possible of course that minor changes have been made in the blend depending on the availability of certain Single Malts.

The 18 Years is indeed quite similar to the Platinum. This Blend is okay but suffers from the low ABV and the, IMO, slightly too high Speyside (Cardhu) component. It would be much better at 43-45% with a higher percentage of Highland & Island (Talisker). As it is, it's okay if you can get it at around US$ 50. Above that, the Green and even the Black and Double-Black are the better JW options.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                         June 15, 2020

Cardhu

Maristela Cachaça Review - Moonshine White Dog San Basile Review - Code 9 Single Malt Review

“And Now For Something Completely Different”

Introduction:

With respect to Whisky, Brazil is still a developing country. Everybody knows the main Blends such as Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Ballantine's of course. But the demand for Single Malts is still very limited and so is the offer. The very high prices don't help here either. But the main reason is perhaps the climate. Most people consider that Beer and Cocktails like the Caipirinha simply combine better with the tropical climate. It's not for nothing that Cachaça (Sugar Cane Liquor) is the national distillate and the main ingredient of Caipirinha. But Whisky is slowly becoming more popular in Brazil and it's time to give a bit more attention to this fact. Today I'm looking at a White Dog produced in Sao Paulo state that seeks to attract the attention of young people and a Single Malt Whisky from the Southern state of Santa Catarina. To put their performance in perspective, I will compare them to an artisan Cachaça, also from the state of Sao Paulo. All in all, it's quite different from my usual Whisky tasting sessions so I'm looking forward to it!

===================================================

Spirit Review # 876

Country: Brazil
Region: Caçapava (Sao Paulo State)

Brand: Maristela Prata

Type: Brazilian Artisan Sugar Cane Liquor
Age: NAS (Six Months)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Stainless Steel tanks
Chill Filtration: Not Applicable
Average Price Range : US$ 6-8 (June 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍Good and cheap basis for Caipirinha.
Buying Advice: 😐 See above. It's not good enough as a sipping Cachaça.

Colour:

Water (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Prata expression did not mature in wooden casks and consequently does not provide us with lots of Aromas and Flavours. The Nose is Clean, Soft and Sweet with Sugar Cane Alcohol as the main driver. A few modest Fruity and Floral notes.

Main Aromas:

Sugar Cane Alcohol, Yeast, Dough, Grass, Green Leaves, Lime and Cloves.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Vanilla, Concentrated Pear Juice, Mandarin, White Flowers (Marguerite). A distant hint of a Petrol station.

Palate:

The Young Sugar Cane Alcohol really prevails right now and you need to dig deep to identify a few additional Flavour components. The Palate is Sweet, Medium-Dry and slightly Oily and Hot.

Main Flavours:

Sugar Cane Alcohol, Lime, Bitter Orange, Grass and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Vanilla, Pear, Dusty Earth, Green Leaves, Salt, Nutmeg and Cloves.

Finish:

Short/Medium-Long. Light and mainly Sweet. Some increasing Bitterness towards the "Hot" end. I find Sugar Cane Alcohol, Lime, Bitter Orange, Pear, Grass, Green Leaves, Pepper, Salt, Nutmeg and Cloves.

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Cachaça as it drowns easily.

Rating: 60

Nose: 17 - Taste: 14  - Finish: 14  - Overall: 15

Drinking Experience Neat: Below Average

Drinking Experience on the Rocks: Okay

As a Basis for Caipirinha: Good

Conclusion:

The site of the company tells us that the Brand was founded in the 70's by an employee of a still in the Vale do Paraiba region who always dreamed of producing his own Cachaça. Only in Mid 2010 though the copper still was assembled and the first Cachaça was distilled in 2014. Next to the Silver (Prata) I'm reviewing here, the company also produces the Gold that matured in Oak barrels for at least a year and the Premium that matured for 2 years in Ipe Oak and, quite recently, the Amburana. A whole range of (mostly) Fruit Liquors is distilled as well.

The Prata rests for 6 months in Inox steel tanks before being bottled. This is not a sipping Cachaça as it lacks sufficient Aromas and Flavours due to the fact that it did not have Wood contact. It's okay on the rocks I suppose but it mainly serves as a good basis for Caipirinha thanks to the Citric nature of this Maristela Prata. I can hear the White Dog howling so let's see how that compares!

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Whisky Review # 877

Country: Brazil
Region: Tuiuti (Sao Paulo State)

Brand: San Basile White Dog (Moonshine)

Type: Single Malt without Maturation in Oak barrels (New Make Spirit)
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 40%
Maturation: Not Applicable
Chill Filtration: Not Applicable

Sample provided by Mauricio from Brazil. Many Thanks!
Average Price: US$ 18 (June 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👍Good and relatively cheap basis for Cocktails
Buying Advice: 😐It's nice to try it out but it's not my regular kind of drink.

Colour:

Water (Natural Colour)

Nose:

The Moonshine San Basile was produced with a 100% Malted Barley. There are some similarities with the Cachaça of course due to the fact that both Spirits did not have Wood contact after distillation. But there are some differences as well. The Moonshine shows more Fruity and Nutty characteristics besides the obvious Grain influence. It's not as Sweet as well. Personally I like this better but that might be a result of the fact that I've smelled and tasted lots of New Make Spirit during my visits to the Whisky distilleries in Scotland.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Malt Biscuits, Green Apple, Banana, Nougat/Marzipan, Almonds and Alcohol.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Yeast, Dough, Wax, Pear, Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Flowers, Peanuts, Mushrooms, (Lemon) Pepper and a light Meaty note.

Picture Credit: O Cao Engarrafado

Palate:

Malty, Spicy, Fruity and Floral. Medium-Sweet with a few Bitter notes. The Alcohol is more noticeable by now. It is similar to Gin and Grain Vodka but I find it to be a little more subtle.

Main Flavours:

Malted Barley, Malt Biscuits, Green Apple, Banana, Almonds, Alcohol and Pepper.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Dough, Yeast, Pear, Flowers, Lemon, Seville-Orange, Cardamom and Menthol.

Finish:

Medium-Long, Bitter-Sweet, Hot and Spicy. The Alcohol is quite present at this stage. I find Sweet Barley, Dough, Green Apple, Pear, Banana, Grass, Seville-Orange, Pepper, Cardamom, Menthol and Juniper.

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Moonshine.

Rating: 71

Nose: 18.5 - Taste: 17.5 - Finish: 17.5 - Overall: 17.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Okay/Good

Conclusion:

San Basile Distillery is run by Renato Chiappetta. Since 2019 the distillery offers 16 different distillates including Spiced Rum, Liquors, Gin, Limoncello & Absinthe.

It is understood that around 70% of all Whisky Aromas and Flavours derive from (extensive) wood contact. The rest comes from the distillation process, the Barley, the Water, the Yeast and the "Terroir". So you can't expect to find lots of Aromas and Flavours when nosing and tasting Moonshine. I did manage to identify a few but it took me a while despite the fact that I have nosed and tasted many New Make Spirits in Scotland. This San Basile Moonshine certainly holds its ground. You can sip it or enjoy it over ice but it's best used in cocktails. This New Make Spirit does show some potential and it would be nice to be able to enjoy a well-matured San Basile Single Malt in the future. Who knows!

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Whisky Review # 878

Country: Brazil
Region: Blumenau (Santa Catarina state)

Brand: Code 9
Distilled at: Xanadu Distillery, Blumenau

Type: Brazilian Single Malt Whisky - Pure Malt according to local law
Age: NAS (Around 3 Years)

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 43%
Maturation:  Ex-Bourbons casks and Refill/Re-Charred American and French Oak
Chill Filtration: No

Sample provided by Mauricio from Brazil. Many Thanks!

Average Price : US$ 30-35
Price/Quality Ratio: 😃Pleasant surprise. Okay/Good P/Q ratio
Buying Advice: 👍 It's a nice alternative for Scottish entry level Malts. 

Colour:

Amber (Natural Colour for the time being)

Nose:

Young, Clean and slightly on the Thin side. The Fresh French Oak is clearly there and reminds me of some recent West-European Whiskies. The Nose is Sweet but not overly so. Lots of Biscuity and Nutty notes alongside a little (Dried) Fruit. No significant off-notes.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Malted Barley, Vanilla, Butter Biscuits, Dried Fruit like Raisins & Sultanas, New and Refill Oak, Toasted Almonds, Dairy and Straw.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Toffee, Caramel, Demerara Sugar, Syrup, Marzipan, Honey, Slivovitz, Toasted Pineapple, Cinnamon and Cocoa Powder.

  

Palate:

Young, Clean, Sweet and slightly Thin. No Off-Notes. You can sip this Malt and that's the first time I say that about a Brazilian Whisky (Product). The Alcohol is more present now.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Cocoa Powder, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Plums, Toasted Almonds, New and Refill Oak, Pepper and Cinnamon.

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Marzipan, Citrus Peel, Straw and Licorice.

Finish:

Middle-Long, Young and mostly Sweet. A Little Bitterness from the Oak provides some balance. The Alcohol is quite present at this point and the Malt can't hide its Youth. But, again, no off-notes and without any doubt the best Brazilian Whisky I have tasted so far. I find Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Vanilla, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Plums, Cocoa Powder, New & Refill Oak, Straw, Lemon Peel, Almonds, Pepper, Cinnamon, Cough Syrup and Licorice.

Drinking Advice:

I added a little Water and that adds a Creamy texture to the palate. The Finish becomes too Thin though. Still, a few drops are okay.

Rating: 81

Nose: 20.5 - Taste: 20 - Finish: 20 - Overall: 20.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

The creator of this Brazilian Malt is Bruno Mafra. The product is distilled in the Xanadu distillery in Blumenau.

I'm pleasantly surprised by this Code 9. It's the best Brazilian Whisky product I've tasted so far. The main issue is its Youth. It would be nice to try a fully-matured Code 9 Malt, matured in Ex-Bourbon casks with a Sherry wood Finish. Maybe I'm day-dreaming here but this is a promising project and I wish Bruno all the best!

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                          June 8, 2020

Xanadu Stills

Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve Review

“Blackberry Way”

Whisky Review # 875

Country: Japan
Region: North of Tokyo

Brand: Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve - Leaf Series
Blended at: Chichibu Distillery

Type: Japanese Blended Malt Whisky
Age: NAS

Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 46%
Maturation: Possibly a mix of Bourbon, Sherry & Mizunara Wood. Red Wine Finish
Chill Filtration: No
Average Price : US$ 260 (June 2020) - Lowest Price: US$ 128 (June 2020)
Price/Quality Ratio: 👎 Too expensive for such a Young Whisky
Buying Advice: 😀 It's expensive but if you love Red Wine Finish, go for it!

Colour:

Dark Amber with shades of Brown and Orange (Natural Colour)

Nose:

It's a young Whisky but the Red Wine casks mask this fact convincingly without over-powering the other Aromas. Nicely done. It's Medium-Sweet and quite Fruity with lots of Dark Red Fruits like Berries. Soft and Pleasant.

Main Aromas:

Sweet Barley, Butter Biscuits, Toffee, Vanilla, Dark Red Fruit (Berries), Cassis, Fresh Apricot, Dried/Fresh Herbs, Milk-Chocolate, Oak, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mint, Cardamom and Licorice.

Supportive Aroma Accents:

Roasted Nuts, Coffee Beans, Dried Fruit like Raisins and Banana, Grass & Straw, Floral Soap, Apple Strudel, Bounty Candy Bars, Nougat, Orange, Polished Leather and Pepper. A hint of overcooked Vegetables.

Palate:

The Red Wine casks are more present now without being dominant. Again they succeed in partly obscuring the Youth of this Whisky. The Palate presents a mix of Sweet, Bitter and Sour notes. As you know I'm not a huge fan of Red Wine cask finishing but here it works.

Main Flavours:

Sweet Malted Barley, Caramel, Roasted Nuts, Red Berries, Plum Jam, Seville-Orange, Apple Strudel, Milk Chocolate, Oak, Cinnamon, Aniseed and Mint. 

Supportive Flavour Accents:

Honey, Toffee, Toast, Vanilla, Dried Fruit (Raisins, Dates and Figs), Grapefruit, Lemon-Pepper, Herbal Tea, Polished Leather, Dusty Track, Bounty Candy Bars, Cloves and Soy Sauce.

Finish:

Medium-Long. Medium-Dry. Mainly Sweet with a few Bitter and Spicy notes as well for balance. The Red Wine casks are more noticeable now without overdoing it. I find Sweet Barley, Toffee, Caramel, Vanilla, Honey, Grass, Straw, Seville Orange, Blackberries, Raspberries, Dried and Fresh Herbs, Oak, (Lemon) Pepper, Ginger, Aniseed, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Chocolate, Cherry-Flavoured Cough Syrup, Metal and Mushrooms.

Drinking Advice:

No need to add Water to this Wine Wood Reserve as the ABV of 46% is spot-on.

Rating: 86.5

Nose: 22 - Taste: 22 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion:

This Japanese Whisky is named after Ichiro Akuto, the owner/founder of the Chichibu distillery founded in 2008. He is a grandson of the founder of Hanyu, a distillery that was closed in 2004. Ichiro managed to buy around 400 casks of Hanyu Malt. Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve is a blend of Malt Whisky from these two distilleries. Over the years the Hanyu part in the blend decreases of course. Wine Wood Reserve is finished in egg-shaped French Oak Red Wine Casks called Ovums. They are produced in the Charentes region by Taransaud and are used in the Bordeaux region.

Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve is a well-made Red Wine cask finished blended Malt. This finish manages to largely obscure the Youth of the Spirit. Ichiro for some reason has become a bit of a cult Whisky and prices have gone through the roof. Objectively speaking I can't understand this hype. Ichiro has produced some nice Malts but it is very Young Whisky and we should not forget that! Still, if you are a big fan of Red Wine Cask Finishing and you have the cash, you won't be disappointed with this Wine Wood Reserve.

Cheers!

Jan van den Ende                                                                          June 1, 2020

Chichibu Distillery