Chivas Regal 18 Year First-Fill Japanese Oak Finish

A new Travel Exclusive from the Chivas Regal collection. This iteration features an 18-year-old aged spirit finished in Japanese mizunara oak casks. This is the standard 18-year-old treated to a finish in these "water oak" (as the translation for mizunara indicates) barrels. Bottled at 48% ABV, it presents a nice orange amber color. On the nose, this differs from the standard 18-year-old. The regular expression is much more perfumed and citrusy with orange notes. This one immediately offers a strong, rich caramel aroma. Coffee, very clean lemon peel, dulce de leche, and chocolate are also present. On the palate, it's exceptionally smooth. Vanilla custard, caramel, and sawdust are noted. It's very direct and smooth, with no perceptible alcohol heat. The finish is the highlight. A beautiful tobacco note, burnt oak, wasabi, and herbal spices are present. Very enjoyable. Overall, this is a sophisticated spirit. A bit straightforward, though. It's quite distinct from the standard expression and can be appreciated by anyone. 88 out of 100.

Nose - Clean, sharp, sweet, light honey, fresh blueberries, light apple juice, light caramel, balsa wood. Taste - Dark honeyed apple juice, hint of orange, ginger spice, dried berries, honey. Finish - Lingering ginger spice, apple juice, honey, dried apples, dried blueberries. Score - 85/100 Final Thoughts - This one wasn't as great as I expected, but it wasn't terrible either. The nose was pleasant but rather uninspiring. The palate was tasty, but nothing exciting. It's clear this was intended to appeal broadly, and it shows. It's perfectly acceptable from start to finish, but not particularly exciting. I'm also not entirely sure what the First Fill Japanese Oak finish contributes, but it wasn't much. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - No Would I buy a bottle? - No

Enjoyable and flavorful, with much more character than the standard 18-year bottling. Adding water opens it up considerably, revealing more of the mizunara oak notes. Definitely worth the cost in my opinion, especially since it's unfiltered and 48% ABV.

Wonderful whiskey. The oak is noticeable and present, but it doesn't overpower the whisky's characteristics and tastes. Evokes memories of trips to Japan.