Shibui Grain Select

My expectations for Japanese whisky are excessively high. This is a reality I must confront, and this particular whisky, while not the sole reason, is the one that compelled me to look inward. Therefore, while dealing with this, I can only state that it was a letdown, though perhaps it shouldn't have been. What I mean is, for the price point and description, it's quite straightforward and delivers what it promises, which isn't much. It has a hint of buttery toffee and honey, and perhaps if I'm being generous, I could add coconut to that meager list, but that's about it. The initial taste is fine, delicate to the point of being thin, the finish is peculiar, and its only redeeming quality is the hint of that interesting Mizunara woody aftertaste. That being said, it's not bad, and it's probably quite pleasant and likely suitable for a decent cocktail. I drank it neat. It's not the worst Japanese whisky I've tried, but far from the best. It seems like a combination of byproducts assembled to create something palatable and marketable. That's not always a negative, but it's not the most exciting either. That said, it's not unreasonably priced, and the labeling and description are honest, so you'll get what you pay for and what's advertised. As long as you don't anticipate more, you won't be disappointed. If only I had acted accordingly, I wouldn't be feeling the slight disappointment I'm experiencing now. This is not the fault of the distiller, but perhaps a result of my own perception of the Japanese whisky hype.

My experience with Japanese grain whiskies so far is that they tend to be very light and similar to sake, and this one is no different. It's essentially just grain alcohol with some whisky added for color, possessing fermented qualities and strange, musty aromas on the exhale.

The aroma is quite alcoholic with some caramel and fruity notes. The taste features rice and buttery caramel, along with a slight oaky spice. It's a bit hot and has a light mouthfeel. The finish is short and spicy. 75/100

Really good, light Japanese spirit with more body and a smoky flavor, which is a welcome change from the typical light, rice/sake taste. Drank neat.

Aroma has notes of cherry and chocolate. The palate offers toffee and mineral notes. A long finish with hints of mature plums.

A little lacking in flavor. Only detecting a light, clean start with an alcoholic afterburn for the finish.