Yame 10 Year Eight Goddesses

Each time I visit Denver for work, I try to bring a sample pour, hoping to enjoy it after challenging days. I should have chosen something heavily sherried or peated, given the cold weather and snowy mountains. However, I opted for this out of curiosity, a sample kindly shared by a friend. Information on this one is scarce. It is 10 years old and Japanese, but its origin is uncertain – is it made in Japan or sourced elsewhere and then labeled Japanese? I suspect it's not genuinely Japanese, as only a select few are (like Yamazaki, Hibiki, Yoichi, and a couple of others). Regardless, the quality of the liquid is what matters. So, onto the tasting: It has a slight aroma, less than I would anticipate from a 10-year-old Japanese spirit (comparing it to Hibiki 12 or Yoichi 10). The taste is light, with a fresh bread flavor. It's slightly floral. This would be excellent in cocktails or served over ice during the summer. Overall, I'm uncertain if this is truly a Japanese whisky; it seems more like a Scottish Lowlander aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon casks. However, unlike many Japanese whiskies, it's affordable, comparable in price to Hibiki Harmony. Between this and Harmony, it's a close call, with both being similar. Harmony has a slight edge on the nose, but this one has an advantage with an age statement. Thanks to a friend for the sample! It was a welcome refreshment after a 15-hour day.

The aroma has a substantial amount of spicy wood, quite comparable to bourbon. It has the scent of a specific bourbon, not at all like a malt whiskey. The taste is rather sharp with enjoyable rich spice that lacks excessive harshness and provides just the right amount of mild tannin numbness. It possesses a bit of that bourbon sawdust flavor, but this expression seems more polished with added layers for complexity. There's minimal sweetness, but the mouthfeel is moderate. It also has some pleasant vanilla notes. It's certainly not as robust and strong as that bourbon, but it's more harmoniously balanced with greater subtlety. The flavor resemblance between the two is striking. I detect a little malt from this just after tasting the bourbon, but not much. This isn't a top-tier whiskey and is somewhat perplexing, yet it's quite good - superior to that bourbon. This isn't top-tier, but it's a little surprising in a moderately intriguing way. I prefer it to most Japanese whiskey, although I consider it largely a marketing ploy. It's somewhat like a bourbon combined with a specific blended scotch. Completely drinkable to the point of being truly enjoyable, but not exceptional.

Caramel and fruit with a whisper of vanilla, which is an adequate hint, followed by a robust floral conclusion. Admirers of Japanese whiskey would find this highly enjoyable. It lacks any peat or spice. From the bottle, it brings to mind different variations of Nikka Coffey grain whisky. It's smooth and suitable for daily drinking. I generally find peaty and spicy notes are preferable during the colder months or when I'm feeling reflective. However, I've struggled to find much information about this bottle. At $60-70, it's not inexpensive, but it's surprisingly good. I would suggest it.

Nose: Due to the low proof, the aroma is somewhat subtle, but oak is present alongside apple and stone fruit notes. A pleasant introduction. Palate: It's very light and juicy, if that description fits. The fruit detected in the nose carries through to the palate. This is an intriguing Japanese whisky as malted barley flavors are hardly noticeable. Finish: The finish is brief, featuring some grain and plum elements. Generally, this is a distinctive pour, quite unlike other Japanese whiskies I've sampled. A higher proof would likely enhance this whisky.

This spirit is quite understated. The aroma offers little, just a touch of ethanol. The taste has a very delicate apricot flavor, with nutmeg, possibly. The finish endures briefly but is very pleasing, with only a slight warming sensation. I could spend a considerable amount of time with this while engaged in other activities such as reading or composing spirit reviews.

Considering the current high prices for Japanese whisky, this is a bargain. It's exceptionally smooth and tastes like liquid banana foster, with notes of caramel, bananas, coconut, and vanilla. Its sweet, tropical profile perfectly complements the tropical climate of Fukuoka on Kyushu Island in southern Japan.