Hakata 12 Year Sherry Cask

Nose - Dark raisins, prunes, a hint of dark soy sauce, leather, almost like a PX sherry. Taste - Sweet and savory, tart berries, blackberries, dark chocolate, dark sweet soy sauce, slightly drying, like carbonated soy sauce? Finish - Tart and drying yet sweet, dark raisins, dark dried berries, dark chocolates. Score - 88/100. Final Thoughts - I'm uncertain about the intensity of the sherry aging or the condition of the barrels Hakata is matured in, but they seem quite moist and possess significant sherry influence. There are abundant dark raisins and prunes in this. Once it hits the palate, it becomes slightly less sweet, which was pleasant, but it felt somewhat tart and drying. The transition during swallowing almost feels like consuming a sweet, savory, carbonated soy sauce. It's unusual, but not entirely unpleasant? So far, these seem to be very heavily sherried spirits that capture more sherry influence than anything else. They are good, but a bit monotonous due to that. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes. Would I specifically order it? - Perhaps. Would I buy a bottle? - No. NOTE - All reviews are conducted without considering price.

Nose: Dark fruits like raisins, pomegranate, dark chocolate with a whisper of soy sauce. Taste: Sweet and tart berries, maltiness; pleasingly sweet with a touch of spice. Finish: The sherry is apparent here along with more maltiness. Minimal alcohol burn. Very much enjoy this one; I haven't encountered a whisky quite like it before.

Pomegranate and berry on the nose. Heavy old funk and dry mouthfeel. Figs, rich sherry, date syrup. A sherry bomb. A hint of malt in the finish.

Tastes like chocolate-covered strawberries and raspberry-infused soy sauce mixed with umami, figs, ginger, orange peels, and cloves.

Orange, raisins, sherry, malted milk balls. A pleasant flavor profile, but the sherry/tannins become tiresome quickly.

Notes of raisins, orange peel, stewed fruit, and honey. Sherry notes emerge on the finish.