Ohishi Brandy Single Cask Whisky

By law, a whisky made from rice is indeed whisky. The official definition states it plainly: a distillate made from only three components - water, a grain, and yeast. It must be aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years and bottled at no less than 40% alcohol by volume. This Japanese whisky, crafted from rice, is aged in individual brandy barrels. It's bottled at 41.9% ABV and has a peachy hue. Upon smelling, it's quite fruity, with notes of spicy clove and plum liqueur. You can detect raw rice, prunes, and plums, along with cider. After the initial taste, the scent evolves into hints of glue and a blackberry preserve. On the tongue, expect gooseberries, raw rice, and ginger. It's very grape-like and winey. The influence of the brandy cask is quite prominent here. The finish is the highlight. Once again, that sensation of raw rice appears, along with ginger and cider. It's spicy and dry. In conclusion, if encountered blind, one would definitely mistake this for a sweet plum liqueur. It's very refreshing and simple to drink, lacking significant complexity and having a brief finish. While not a bad drink, it doesn't quite present as whisky. I rate it 82 out of 100.

A complex, blended Japanese spirit from a Japanese distillery, made with organic rice and blended from a small quantity of ex-Brandy casks after aging. It has an aromatic beginning with sake, a tart floral note, and a hint of nuts; while a rich and thick middle adds notes of honey syrup, tart apples, sake, hints of caramel, and almonds; leading to a tart end of moderate duration with hints of wood tannins and toasted almonds.

Odd, off-putting smell. The taste is quite sweet, with almond and honey, followed by a strange sourness that I dislike. It's rich and has a nice tail, seeming like a quality spirit, but that sour finish spoils it for me.

This is very close to brandy. It smells like sweet apples and dry white wine. The barrel aging is evident on the palate with vanilla, caramel, and a hint of oak alongside the green apple and grape flavors.

Harsh and immature, the rice sweetness is evident, but it's thin and unfinished. Needs more time aging. Glad I experienced it at half price.

Subtle caramel and honey on the nose. Light, sweet honey taste. It's enjoyable to sip. The more I drink, the more addictive the sweetness becomes.