Kurayoshi 18 Year Pure Malt

This is the best Kurayoshi I've tried so far (I've sampled 3), and I suspect all its flavor comes from the higher alcohol content. This blend of Scottish and Japanese malts provided a good experience, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Bottled at 50% ABV. On the nose, it's beautiful. Very floral and perfumed. Dried fruits and grapes. No hint of alcohol, even at 50% ABV. Strawberries, sweet bread; fantastic. Grape juice, cereal, honeycomb, bananas, and that "typical" dulce de leche, toffee note found in other Kurayoshi expressions. On the palate, also very good. Almonds. Nutty. Butterscotch. Pepper and citrus notes. More dulce de leche (toffee). After the third sip, it becomes earthy. The finish is by far the best part. A perfect score. Very rewarding. A wonderfully pleasant spice explosion, a mix of pepper, ginger, and oak spice. Overall, I have to say there are better 18-year-old whiskies available, but this one is worth trying at least once. Great whisky, the only Kurayoshi I would recommend, rated 92 out of 100. Cheers!

The aroma has some spice I can't identify, honey, and light wood. The taste has a hint of smoke, perhaps a bit of salt, savory meats, and honey. The finish is toasted wood with hints of vanilla and some sort of rich, savory dessert. Not bad for a non-genuine Japanese spirit. I acquired this at a reduced price, which was significantly below the suggested retail price. At that price, buy as many as you can. For more than that, skip it.

Attended WhiskyLive NJ. Following the Balcones Rye and Amrut Intermediate Sherry, this was likely my third-best experience of the event. It's a mix of Scottish and Japanese spirits. I don't recall the precise tasting notes, but it was good enough to rank in my top 5 for the evening.

When sampling any 18 year old spirit, expectations are set. This doesn't quite meet them. It's quite good, but it just lacks character. It's not particularly memorable. A nice drink, certainly, but I would be displeased if I had purchased a bottle.

Nose: toasted notes, rye, apricot, and sherry with a sake-like scent. Body: light to medium, which is pleasant. Palate: malty, bready, with vanilla. Finish: medium length. Comment: This one is truly excellent.

Very fragrant and vanilla-scented on the nose. Orange citrus with the faintest smokiness of black tea on the taste. More vanilla and smoke in the aftertaste.