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| Hello, that is considered one of our (virtually) each day tastings. Santé! |
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July 25, 2021
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Olympic Japanese trios, Day 1/8-bis (malternatives) |
| Certainly we might have had some Japanese rums (we could strive some subsequent week on Sunday) or some Japanese brandies, and even Shochu, however since there’s a big Calvados session deliberate in August, I believed we might quite have a trio of Japanese ‘Apple Brandies’ by Nikka. Bear in mind, since Masataka Taketsuru’s days, Nikka’s at all times been into apples; I assume we’ll inform the story eventually… |
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Nikka ‘Apple Brandy V.S.O.P.’ (40%, OB, Japan, +/-2015) 
We have tried each the quite gentle and dry Rita 30 yo brandy (WF 82) and the superb Miyagikyo ‘Apple Brandy Wooden End’ (WF 87) which, I suppose has performed good use of some empty casks. Having stated that, I have no idea a lot about this very brandy, whether or not they make it themselves or not and so on. Let’s simply strive it because the decanter screams ‘I am value it!’ (S., what?). Color: full gold. Nostril: gentle, quite between a younger blended calvados and a few sugary rum ala black Bacardi. Not disagreeable in any respect, naturally, however actually skinny and after thirty seconds, you’d consider you are nosing cider into which somebody would have thrown Demerara sugar. Mouth: I am not too positive. Reasonably loads of brown sugar once more, some cider once more, some leaves and peelings, a little bit cardboard, then some uncooked plum spirit, and one thing quite tough and sizzling, fairly spirity. Thinnish physique. End: quick and a little bit dry and even burnt. Feedback: I am reminded of Mekhong ‘whisky’ and I keep in mind that the Rita Brandy was ten instances higher (on a scale that’s not, contrarily to what many good people consider, linear!) Anecdotal spirit however the decanter is beautiful.
SGP:330 – 50 factors. |
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Did they actually make their wonderful Yoichi and Miyagikyo ‘Apple Brandy End’ utilizing these casks?… Proper, please a second likelihood…
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Nikka ‘Apple Brandy X.O.’ (40%, OB, Japan, +/-2015) 
One other beautiful bottle, this time a white flagon with a really ‘medieval pop’ label that The Beatles might have used for an album. Or the band ‘Renaissance’. Color: deep gold. Nostril: not that completely different, most likely a little bit drier and nearer to the fruit, quite extra elegant, with touches of mead past the cider, some nice fermentary notes, and above all that, no traces of burnt sugar in any way. Approach, means nicer than the VSOP on the nostril. Mouth: however definitely, that is a lot better, fairly dry and leafy, quite rustic, however with good notes of apples and as soon as once more, virtually no feeling of ‘added sugar’. End: quite quick, a little bit drying, a little bit cardboardy… Some surprising, earthier notes of eggplant and celeriac within the aftertaste. Feedback: once more, it is probably not my scene however that is higher than the VSOP certainly, I doubt anybody would disagree.
SGP:330 – 70 factors. |
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Nikka 12 yo ‘Single Apple Brandy Hirosaki’ (40%, OB, Japan, +/-2018?) 
I consider these ones are solely obtainable at their whisky distilleries. Hirosaki is the title of a city within the north of Honshu, the place they develop loads of apples, they even have an ‘Apple Park’ with a couple of hundred types. To be visited through the apple season, I suppose, however fortunately, not all breeds do develop concurrently. Color: deep gold. Nostril: ah, now we’re speaking! Pretty varnish, calvados certainly, pear spirit, nail polish, hops, almonds, varied kernels, crushed pine nuts, a contact of orange, maybe even a little bit incense… An exquisite nostril certainly, miles away from the very disappointing VSOP and XO in my guide. Mouth: certainly, superb if a tad inexperienced, leafy, peely… Inexperienced apples and inexperienced walnuts, some earth, pepper, coated with almond paste and, maybe, a tiny contact of pink bean curd. Some sweetness coming by after a couple of seconds, round… candy cider. End: lengthy, extra rustic. Extra apple peelings and a little bit sweet sugar within the aftertaste. Feedback: I appreciated the nostril higher than the palate. They name it ‘candy and fruity’ however I discover it neither candy nor fruity. However I discover it fairly good. Too dangerous I have not received something left from that Rita 30 yo.
SGP:340 – 80 factors. |
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Blended emotions however I consider these 40% vol. did not actually assist both. Tomorrow, again to Japanese whisky, together with some wonderful ones by Nikka!
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