No. 1 Single Cask bottlings tasting notes
NO. 1 HANYU 1991, 57.3% ABV
(Cask No. 370 - bottled in 2009)
Nose: Fresh and fragrant, with spicy caramel, white chocolate, and a hint of pepper.
Palate: Ripe plums and ginger, becoming nuttier and drying.
Finish: Dries steadily, with spices and insistent oak tannins. GAVIN SMITH
EXPECT TO PAY: £107
NOH KARUIZAWA 1976, 63% ABV
(Cask No. 6719 - bottled in 2009)
Nose: Sweet with big, fragrant sherry notes, incense, buttery and spicy fudge. Developing soft vanilla.
Palate: Textured, very spicy, with stewed fruits, walnuts and fresh oak.
Finish: Long and oaky. Liquorice and dark chocolate. Ultimately, a not unattractive slight note of burnt rubber. GAVIN SMITH
EXPECT TO PAY: £135
NO. 1 KARUIZAWA 1972, 65.0% ABV
(Cask No. 7290 - bottled in 2008)
Nose: Dark treacle, malt and gentle, smoky spice.
Palate: Performs on the palate as you would expect from the nose – rich and powerful, fruity and spicy, with a whiff of smoke. Developing sultanas and worn leather.
Finish: Long, full and warming. GAVIN SMITH
EXPECT TO PAY: £155
NO. 1 NOH SERIES KARUIZAWA 1995, 63.0% ABV
(Cask No. 5004 - bottled in 2008)
Nose: Resinous. Varnish, balsam/tiger balm, geranium, shoe polish, prune, heavily oiled woods. Rosewood casket. Lots of wood. Mint chocolate with water.
Palate: Light astringency when neat, wood oils, teetering into bitterness. With a drop of water, there's eucalyptus. Fragrance just stops it becoming too grippy.
Finish: Tight and exotic. DAVE BROOM
EXPECT TO PAY: £75
NO. 1 HANYU 1990, 55.5% ABV
(Cask No. 9511 - bottled in 2007)
Nose: Offers attractive floral characteristics, with malt and fresh fruits, plus an exotic hint of sandalwood. The addition of water releases darker, smokier notes.
Palate: Sweet and comparatively syrupy; apple pie and custard, with more spicy, citric elements emerging after dilution.
Finish: Lengthy and pleasantly dry. Ultimately slightly herbal. GAVIN SMITH
EXPECT TO PAY: £95
NO. 1 KARUIZAWA 1992, 61.5% ABV
(Cask No. 3330 - bottled in 2007)
Nose: Opens with spice, vanilla, almonds and milk chocolate. With time darker cocoa and treacle aromas develop.
Palate: Full-bodied yet comparatively dry in the mouth, with spicy, tangy, citrus fruits.
Finish: The finish is long and progressively drying with a touch of soot. Gingery oak and a hint of chilli at the close. GAVIN SMITH
EXPECT TO PAY: £56
NO. 1 HANYU 1988 JAPANESE OAK, 55.6% ABV
(Cask No. 9501 - bottled in 2007)
Nose: Packed full of intense, bright aromas: vanilla pod, lemon zest, white chocolate. There's a strange exoticism like Tibetan salt chocolate and a whiff of black olive tapenade. The light smoke adds another touch to the pattern of aromas.
Palate: Good breath of character and intensity with a light smokiness. Water needs to be added.
Finish: Tarry rope. Great length.
Comments: Another which typifies the Japanese style of light pure whiskies with amazing precision. DAVE BROOM
Available in selected markets only
GINKGO JAPANESE BLENDED MALT WHISKY, 46% ABV
Nose: It starts citric (grapefruit) and estery (acetone) then softens to reveal banana milk shake, Victoria sponge, butter and a floral note. It's a Japanese take on an English tea shoppe. There’s just a hint of fragrant smoke at the back. Maybe the waitress is having a sly puff of a cigar out the back door. Classic Japanese precision and clarity.
Palate: Pure and clean and though light-bodied it has a succulent sweet centre. Spicier and more acidic than the nose suggests which gives a liveliness to the creamy mushed up fruits in the centre.
Comments: A well-balanced light fresh aperitif.
DAVE BROOM
Nose: Initial mild, acetone notes soon give way to sweet and floral characteristics, with vanilla essence, delicate spices and mandarin oranges.
Palate: Medium-bodied, sweet and fruity, with a spicy, smoky, citric edge. Water releases more spices and vanilla.
Finish: Long and smoky, with a hint of barley sugar.
Comment: Japanese whisky at its best – with characteristic complexity, balance, and elegance. Delicious!
GAVIN SMITH (Whisky of the Month, November 2007)
EXPECT TO PAY: £52.50
Dave Broom’s tasting notes are reproduced by kind permission of Wine & Spirit.
Gavin Smith's notes appear by kind permission of www.whiskypages.com