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10 Apr

Japanese whiskies you need to try

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April 10, 2019

If you ask to get us excited about Japanese drinks, we will of course think of the joys of sake, awamori, and shōchū. But we are Master of Malt and whisky will always demand our attention too. Given that we’re shouting out all things Japanese at the moment, it seemed silly not to talk about whisky from Japan that we think you would enjoy. So here’s some recommendations.

Yamazaki 12 Year Old

Today we told the story of Yamazaki because Suntory’s flagship single malt whisky is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Of all the expressions Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery has released, the 12 year old is arguably the most defining. It was the first seriously marketed Japanese single malt whisky when it was launched in 1984 and remains a wonderfully elegant and smooth single malt packed with flavour.

Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve

Here from Hakushu (pronounced Hak-shoo) we have a Japanese whisky made from lightly-peated and heavily-peated with a bright, green, and herbaceous character that’s quite unique and really worth trying. It’s hard to think of an immediate comparison. If you think you’ve sampled it all but haven’t tasted this, you should remedy that.

01 Apr

A VERY SPECIAL TASTING WITH THE MACALLAN HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

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April 1, 2019

It was just after some lovely locally sourced soup and a couple of distillery-made sandwiches that I sat down to sample the full The Macallan 1824 range, plus a special dram chosen in response to my whisky bucket list.

There was a typical The Macallan loveliness about it all; a screen gave me a big The Macallan welcome and the tasting mat has my name on it… a small but significant touch as it symbolises the care and attention the brand gives to those who they serve; the consumer.

I was guided through my six drams by Margaret, Brand Education Manager for The Macallan and someone who’s job I’m highly envious of, especially as her first ever visit to London was to visit Buckingham Palace and meet The Queen, of course.

DRAM ONE – NEW MAKE – 69.4% – FRESH OFF THE STILLS

Now, I’m a weird one as I love sampling new make, there is something obviously raw about it but also it gives an understanding of the inputs that have gone into the final drams we know and love once released by any brand really.

This one was surprisingly smooth, amazingly nice to sip, especially as its so strong.

Big, bold and oily, with an undertone of fresh fruit.

Applying the ‘palm test’ where you take a couple of drops of whisky and rub it in your palms to evaporate the alcohol and give you a truer sense of the taste profile revealed high notes of barley and wheat.

Pre-drams two to five I was made to do a ‘quicky nose’ of the rest of the range to start the nose and brain contemplating how they line up and how they differ. I was shocked at how the product tiers carried more and more sherry influence as I went along the line, from second fills to mixed first and second and eventually only first fill sherry casks. Lovely.

DRAM TWO – THE MACALLAN 1824 GOLD – 40%

The nose was also smooth, elements of citrus and not very whisky-like in my opinion, nothing that stood out and said ‘hey, I’ve been maturing in Scotland for years!’.

That being said it tracks with what other brands do with their entry level products, think Haig Club, by creating a whisky that can entice non-whisky drinkers into considering other products within the category – very smart.

The palate released more citrus notes, had a bit more punch about it with hints of vanilla and was very light in colour.

DRAM THREE – THE MACALLAN 1824 AMBER – 40%

The nose revealed lots of toffee apples, hints of spice, more new make influence strangely and definitely more sherry.

The palate brought out more and more sherry the longer I retained it in my mouth, or chewed it as us whisky folk say, with hints of orange, spice and an overall sense of Christmas about it.

DRAM FOUR – THE MACALLAN 1824 SIENNA – 43%

Only first fill sherry casks in this one, and you can really tell, Margaret and I agreed it is an absolute bargain for the £66 price tag attached to it.

The nose is all about berries, pineapple whereas the palate takes that towards dried fruits and rich citrus, a really interesting and complex dram. Worth a try.

DRAM FIVE – THE MACALLAN 1824 RUBY – 43%

Now we’re talking. All first fill sherry casks again chosen from the rarest available, and personally at £120 this is an incredible bargain to be had, I know – I bought one in the distillery shop on the way out I was so enthralled.

The nose actually smelt as if you had been transported back to warehouse number seven where these casks had been sleeping all these years. Quite raw, deep notes.

The palate is all about warming, relaxed notes highlighting dried fruits, caramel and chocolate. A very mature dram and one I will savour once I get that bottle opened!

DRAM SIX – 1979 GRAN RESERVA – 40%

Only bottled for four years, first filled European oak casks. Sealed bottles of this guy are now fetching around £1,600 on auction sites and I can tell why.

I wrote very few notes for this one, only that it was long and continually developing… happiness in a glass.

That concludes my tasting notes.

I thank The Macallan and in particular Margaret, Morag and Ian for being spectacular hosts and making me feel more than welcome, I already cannot wait to return to one of whisky’s most idyllic spiritual homes.