Hatozaki Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

Smell: pine, juniper, liquorice, some of the muted notes from the Hatozaki blended that have now become sharper. Pepper, resin, pencil shavings. Bitter lemon. Some toffee? Cooked meat? Taste: It really develops compared to the Hatozaki blended. Much fuller, but still zesty and peppery. Slightly herbal and grassy, with lime and tart fruits. A little bit of dry oakiness, some salted nuts. Burnt toast, a little campfire smoke. Any sweetness I detect is vanilla. Finish: Smoky, a little woody. Overall: I really enjoy that it’s zesty, spicy, and refreshing, but a bit more sweetness would have improved the balance. I love the resinous notes on the nose though, and as it airs out it does become a little less sharp.

Smell: Sweet, dried fruit, malt loaf, honey, aromatic, woody Taste: Rich, malt loaf, aromatic spices, dried fruit, vanilla, lightly smoky. Creamy texture Finish: Medium short finish. Malt, cigar smoke, malt loaf, honey. Sweet and sour aftertaste. Malt loaf, sweet, light smoke and aromatic. Quite enjoyable for 1-2 glasses, but not much more. Generally fine.

Intriguing aroma. Sandalwood. Dry grass and celery. Strangely, I also detect a blue cheese note. The taste is subtle, even with a drop of water. It's dry and warming, with grapefruit, a faint vanilla and a malty funk. The finish is brief with a lingering sweetness and a wisp of smoke.

Not too bad. Delicate, floral, toffee, and berry flavors. A slight sharpness can be detected. Adding a bit of water causes the whiskey to open up beautifully. Rated 3.5 with water. Perfectly complements an afternoon coffee.

It's unusual. It sort of smells and tastes like a mezcal when drunk neat. Adding two drops of water improved it. It had a slight salty aroma and taste. Not bad.

The delightful lack of added coloring might be mistaken for a lack of maturity, but it actually resembles easily drinkable afternoon white wine.