Hatozaki Small Batch Japanese Whisky

Nose - a faint tequila-like scent that diminishes as it sits, a hint of smoke, not much else but very approachable here. Taste - smoky and peaty, not the medicinal kind, with light pear. Finish - a slight tingle on the tongue with lingering light smoke from the taste, no harshness and very easy to drink, short-lived. Score - 3.5, I appreciate the pale color that resembles water with a splash of white wine. Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched to others 4.5 - Excellent, I will always keep a bottle in stock if possible 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink, can consider as a solid choice 3.5 - Good, would taste again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, able to drink but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—wouldn’t drink again unless I am desperate

This was quite surprising. On the nose, I immediately detect light fruitiness, pear, and even a subtle hint of dark chocolate beneath. It carries an aroma reminiscent of scotch and sweetness. However, I detest the mouthfeel. The texture is peculiar, with an unexpected sharpness that almost suggests carbonation. It feels very hot and makes my tongue tingle! Simultaneously, it's quite thin, which seems contradictory and quite odd. It has notes of pepper and lemon, leading to a thin finish. I'm unsure what occurred with this spirit, but it's highly unconventional. Not really in a positive way. I suspect it might be quite young, which could contribute to some of these issues. Perhaps it would perform better in a mixed drink?

Nose: very subtle, with floral notes, butterscotch, and tart fruits. Palate: mild butterscotch, sweet and sour fruits, a touch of pepper. Finish: malt-forward, with tart apples, some oak cask notes, and a hint of lingering oak smoke. Overall, it's very light in both color and delicate in flavor, a unique experience not typically found in scotch, bourbon, or Irish whiskey. However, the price is simply too high; at almost 60 USD, there are far too many other options, even among Japanese whiskies which already present a questionable value proposition with young whiskies priced against very solid bottles of well-aged scotch and Irish whiskey.

Like many others, I immediately detected the floral and fruit notes, and it does have the aroma of good tequila. The finish, however, is smoky, and you can definitely identify it as a Japanese whiskey. I tend to prefer bourbon and scotch, and I'm just starting to explore Japanese whiskey, so it's challenging for me to draw comparisons. Very enjoyable!

Nose: Faint fruit and melon with a more prominent citrus (lemon) aroma. Appearance: Pale straw color with slow-moving legs. Palate: Light melon flavor with a smoky presence. The finish is medium to light. Would suggest using it in a split base old fashioned with a lighter tasting Bourbon to complement both spirits.

The aroma has a slight tequila character. The flavor is quite pleasant, smooth initially with a smoky quality, followed by a mid-palate bite near the end. Adding one drop of water results in a smokier mezcal scent and similar flavor, but with increased intensity. Two drops further enhance the mezcal character and the mid-palate burn seen with one drop.