Fukano Sherry Cask Limited Edition

The nose presents sticky sweet plums, sweetened raisins, sultanas, a buttery quality, blackberries, leather, crème brûlée, and a hint of stewed vegetables, clearly indicating the sweet digestif nature of this dram. On the palate, there's a full, creamy texture dominated by dark fruits, dark candy syrup, lightly roasted coffee, butterscotch, and more leather. This is where the spirit truly excels and reveals its distinctiveness. The rice is not overly apparent in the flavor, but the change in viscosity is striking. This is a thick, creamy spirit! It's almost syrupy, coating the mouth and full-bodied. A drying sensation marks the finish, combining with baking spice and more dark fruit to create a long, flavorful conclusion that offers just the right amount of warmth to round out the whisky.

My encounter with Japanese rice whiskies began with a Single Cask Nation offering, an Ohishi aged 7 years in a refill sherry hogshead, delivering a sweet and rich experience I sought to replicate. While other Ohishi versions didn't quite hit the mark, this Fukano special release is the closest I've come to recapturing that unique cask. The combination of a sweet, complex finishing cask and the unparalleled mouthfeel of rice whisky is something I'll always want available.

I was hesitant because the Distillate was rice and it's a whiskey. Absolutely delightful. A wonderful Sherry bomb. Full of flavor and rich fruity notes. I was pleasantly surprised. Not much spice or bite. It has a subtle funk in the finish after the sweet fruitiness fades, but it's noticeable rather than unpleasant. I will search for a bottle to buy since I sampled this at a bar.

Notes of sherry, coffee, and fruit are prominent on the nose. The aroma lingers. The taste mirrors the smell, which is a positive. The color is impressively deep and rich. It's smooth with a slight edge.

A 'sherry bomb' is an accurate description. Heavy raisin/sherry aroma with a touch of vanilla. Begins sweet and concludes with a little heat.

Lacking in rich, heavy fruit and a long finish. I actually preferred the single cask expression considerably more.