Nobushi Japanese Whisky

What did I just consume? This is a blended Japanese spirit presented in a visually appealing bottle depicting a Nobushi, apparently elite warriors from the land of the rising sun. It's a blend from Hokkaido, Nagano, and Miyagi districts. The outcome is.... underwhelming. Let's begin. Presented at 40% alcohol by volume, with a burnished gold hue. On the nose: peculiar from the moment the seal is broken. It carries a cheap lemon or car air freshener scent. Notes of rice, fermented fruits, and a low-quality dried fruit aroma are present. It smells like grain spirit. AND THAT WAS THE BEST PART. Then, the taste. It's like water with a hint of vanilla and a very faint grape flavor. Aftertaste is terrible. Corn and acetone. It feels very immature and grainy. This is the remnant of some grain spirit distillation. In conclusion, this is something to be avoided unless you plan to deceive inexperienced drinkers into thinking this dram is an "acquired taste" and portray yourself as a connoisseur, ha. A score of 45 out of 100, and frankly, it deserves less. Cheers!

What did I just consume? This is a blended Japanese spirit presented in a visually appealing bottle depicting a Nobushi, apparently elite warriors from the land of the rising sun. It's a blend from Hokkaido, Nagano, and Miyagi districts. The outcome is.... underwhelming. Let's begin. Presented at 40% alcohol by volume, with a burnished gold hue. On the nose: peculiar from the moment the seal is broken. It carries a cheap lemon or car air freshener scent. Notes of rice, fermented fruits, and a low-quality dried fruit aroma are present. It smells like grain spirit. AND THAT WAS THE BEST PART. Then, the taste. It's like water with a hint of vanilla and a very faint grape flavor. Aftertaste is terrible. Corn and acetone. It feels very immature and grainy. This is the remnant of some grain spirit distillation. In conclusion, this is something to be avoided unless you plan to deceive inexperienced drinkers into thinking this dram is an "acquired taste" and portray yourself as a connoisseur, ha. A score of 45 out of 100, and frankly, it deserves less. Cheers!

Japanese whisky can be outstanding, but also disappointing, like the Suntory Toki I sampled last year. The aroma is somewhat muted and overly alcoholic, making scent identification difficult. Lightly sweet and smoky on the nose. On the palate, a touch bitter initially, then opening to a sweet mix of fresh pears, wood shavings, and pie crust. Still a bit bitter, though. Hints of coffee are present. A lingering wisp of smoke persists throughout. Overall, the taste is flat and uninspiring. A bitter aftertaste remains, with faint notes of anise and brown sugar. It's simply not engaging. Dull flavors, with very little depth. I won't repurchase it.

This is quite unique. The initial taste is very mellow, followed by a slightly bitter(?) spicy, and fruity aftertaste. Hard to pinpoint. Is there a hint of rum or even sake in it? It's a puzzling flavor. I suspect I'll be wondering all evening what exact taste it reminds me of. It's not smoky at all (which is good for me). I imagine whiskey traditionalists will dislike it. It's certainly not my top pick, but I do like it a lot. I'll purchase it again.

The aroma presents honey, apple crisp, orange zest, and a trace of smoke. The palate is rich and smooth, featuring vanilla and indistinct sweet fruits. The finish is somewhat lengthy with a slight warmth, reminiscent of young spirits, but not unpleasant. Overall, this appears somewhat delicate, well-balanced, and delightful.

Aroma: Faint hints of orange peel, honey, botanicals/herbs. A touch of salinity, caramel, a hint of spice, burnt bittersweet orange peels. It's subtle on the nose and in flavor. The spice/heat hits mid-palate and dissipates nicely. Overall, a pleasant whiskey, subtle and gentle in its approach.