Kurayoshi 8 Year Pure Malt Sherry Cask

This smells more mature than Suntory Toki, but has less character and is less appealing. The nose has some fruit, including tart apricot. The alcohol is noticeable on the nose. It smells perfectly acceptable. The palate is fairly smooth, I suppose, but there's definitely some youthful harshness. It tastes like a whiskey, for sure, but it tastes quite young. It's fruity, but the flavors aren't exceptional at all. First impression: despite being richer, Suntory Toki has somewhat better execution. The flavor profile is limited, and the alcohol is too prominent. There's also that irritating Irish bitterness. It's drinkable, but not particularly enjoyable. The aftertaste is also bitter. Given the flavor, I was surprised to learn it's a malt whiskey. I appreciate the richness, but the underlying character isn't very good. Honestly, I'd drink this only if forced; it's not very good. That bit of sweetness is a small plus, but it's insufficient. Sadly, this just gets progressively worse. There's little to recommend it.

Nose: Fresh, juicy fruits. A strong white grape note masks the typical sherry 'funk'. Notes of Riesling, menthol, toffee, vanilla, pound cake. Taste: Mellow in flavor. Nothing particularly stands out prominently. Warm spice, butterscotch, vanilla, biscuits. Brighter fruit and sherry influence emerge when water is added. Finish: Buttermilk biscuits, warming. The nose presents a well-balanced whiskey with sherry influence. The taste was somewhat lacking, particularly in the bright fruit flavors detected on the nose, but it opened up with a bit of water. Nothing was unpleasant, but the whiskey seemed to lack a truly 'standout' characteristic.

A sophisticated Pure Malt Whisky from the Matsui Shuzo Distillery in Tottori Prefecture, Japan. It's a blend of malt from Scotland and Japan, aged eight years in new white oak and finished in first-fill ex-Sherry casks, then proofed with spring water from Mount Daisen. It begins aromatically with notes of rancio, pear, and sultanas. The rich body presents notes of ripe d’anjou pear Eau de Vie, sherry, dried fruits, malt, hints of salinity, vanilla, allspice, and oak, leading to an elegant, medium-length finish with notes of port and barley. February 2020 / August 2022

Nose: Unlike certain brands, the aroma is rather mild for its 50% ABV. After a few minutes of air, it opens up with floral notes, plum, and dates. Palate: Fruity with some caramel. Not overly sweet. It lingers pleasantly in the mouth. Not too intense, just right. A touch of dark chocolate and slight bitterness appears at the end. Finish: Medium with an ongoing hint of sherry. Verdict: Acceptable for me. Purchased for about 5000 yen. Suitable for affordable sipping. I'll share some with those who haven't tried it.

Let it sit for about a minute. 👀 Perfectly pale golden color, with semi-robust legs; 👃 Very sweet, like smelling a fruit basket, with vanilla and a hint of smoke; 👅 Pure SWEETNESS, lots of fresh fruit, oily texture; 🏁 Lingers with sweetness, a beautiful finish, typical of Japanese whisky.

The nose is very complex. It reminds me of an Irish scent, though not the taste. I could almost swear it had notes of unmalted barley, like Irish whiskey. Fruity and heavily sherried, just as advertised. It has chocolate and a slight bite.