Here’s a round-up of the single malts I’ve been drinking. I haven’t had much lately, so I’m feeling a little guilty about it. I’ll be hauling back a whole pile again next time I’m in Tokyo, so I really ought to get through these quickly.
A whisky I bought at the Karuizawa distillery.
It’s a whopping 64.9%, yet fragrant and sweet. I think somewhere around 18 to 21 years is the sweet spot where a whisky’s charms really come through. Had I known it would be this good, I’d have bought another bottle.
We moved on to a pojangmacha (street tent bar) for a few simple snacks
I remember it being in Yeonnam-dong
Sea squirt
Just in case, I poured out a little whisky to try with it, but a whisky that’s high in alcohol and sweetness with only a light peat note didn’t really go with it (what a waste!). This kind of whisky suits a quiet drink with a friend at a bar.
The Macallan 18
An elegant, classic single malt aged in sherry oak casks. It has a rich, weighty flavour that would convince anyone who tries it. You’d be hard pressed to find another whisky like it. That must be why it’s *The* Macallan… The Fine Oak series below it has an alcohol bite that I’m not so keen on. The 18 year old is just right for my palate.
Hazelburn
One of the few whiskies left from once-mighty Campbeltown, now in decline. Springbank took it over and releases the Longrow and Hazelburn series. The still on the label is an old-style still unique to Hazelburn; the unusual production method gives it a distinctive taste, and apparently that’s what earns it such high praise. It really is very distinctive, but it didn’t quite suit me. For my palate, something like Springbank is just right..
Next up, whiskies I got as birthday presents.
On the left is an Ardbeg single cask, and on the right is Ichiro’s blended whisky. The right one is very sweet, Japanese-style, while the left one is really powerful. Both have strong personalities and I liked them.
Well.. I think I’m slowly figuring out my taste in whisky. I really love whiskies with a clear character, like Talisker, Ardbeg and Yamazaki. Next time I’m in Japan I should pick up some Yamazaki.