Tasting at Bar K6 Tokyo - The Yamazaki 2011 Cask
C: amber, deep gold
23 N: ripe fruits, black pearl bell-apple, stewed apple, then some beautiful, sweet line incense, fragrance of cedar wood, hint of apricot, a little lemonade, cream, hint of spices, so relaxing!
22 T: medium, a little dry and spicy, stewed apple, ripe fruits, sweet pears, good texture
22 B: very good balanced, it worth to take more time to enjoy, still expecting for more variant
Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel 48% OB 2011
C: gold
22 N: vanilla, cream, ginger, oak wood, some eucalyptus, hint of medicine powder, then some honey, very sweet, peach, pears, good layers, complexes!
21 T: medium, very dry, medicine powder, vanilla, toffee, tar, coated, still good texture
21 B: good balanced, better for nosing
Yamazaki Puncheon 48% OB 2011
C: yellow gold
22 N: some green tea, honey, orange juice, ripe fruits, and beautiful wood cask
22 T: medium, round and smooth, a little spicy, orange juice, tangerine peels, also medicine powder, coated, very dry!
20 B: Balanced, better for nosing
Yamazaki Sherry 48% OB 2011
C: deep amber
22 N: some cherry, very fresh and clean sherry, some longan, grapes, prune, chocolate, hint of raisin, some match box?
22 T: medium, raisin, plum, chocolate, some cocoa at the end. Good texture
21 B: good balanced both for N & T, quite standard and clean sherry cask, still very dry!?
Yamazaki 1994/2009 59%
C: rose gold, amber
22 N: deep, moderate sherry, some black pears, cherry, red ripe grape fruits, hint of match box
23 T: medium, very dry, raisin, rich sherry, then some chocolate, fresh coffee bean, very good texture
22 B: good balanced, better for tasting, stunning, but give me a break, due to the dry?
Why the 2011 cask series are tasted so dry? I asked Mr. Koshimizu Seiichi, the chief blender, when I visited Yamazaki distillery. He told me it's because of the selection of casks. And he did not join the selection this time. It's another chief blender did it(the new one). However, when he asked me how do I feel about the Mizunara cask? I told him it remains consistent and still very attractive and enjoyable, then he smile..
I believe that the new style of Yamazaki is coming in the near future, unless :)
Hakushu 1998/2008 56%
C: yellow gold
23 N: beautiful baked wood cask, some honey, vanilla, cream,
23 T: medium, rich, bold and sweet, vanilla, pudding, some lemon peels, warm
22 B: good balanced both for N & T, still active and variant. I enjoyed the elegant and moderated baked wood very much.
Heart thanks to Suntory Taiwan!