Hatozaki Pure Malt (40%, OB, 2020)
- ABV: 40%
- Age: NAS
- Bottling: OB
- Category: Japanese Single Malt Whisky
- Cost: £46.75 available from The Whisky Exchange
- Origin: Kaikyo distillery
- Vintage: Undeclared
What they say
Named after the oldest stone lighthouse in Japan, Hatozaki Pure Malt Japanese whisky is a sweet, smoky blended malt whisky from Kaikyo distillery.
Official tasting notes:
Rich aromas of dried fruits, toffee apples and summer blossoms fill the nose, and the palate offers notes of sweet honey, delicate wood smoke and sultanas.
What I say
Dram #2 from WOLS 2020 T& International Tasting. Another surprise as I have recently just sampled and reviewed this expression, needless to say I didn’t realise that at the time I was tasting. Notes of oriental green tea came out early leading most of us to surmise this was a young-ish Japanese whisky.
My tasting notes:
- Appearance: Pale champagne gold (2/20), slow, medium-fine tears and long, fine legs.
- Nose: “Green” lime, sweet, herbal, pine, grassy, zesty orange and lime zest.
- Taste: Very sweet, marshmallow, vanilla, white grape, jasmine, raisin, blackberry, green tea, spiced, clove and liquorice.
- Finish: Medium-long, pine needles, herbal.
Overall
Oddly herbal and sweet, this has plenty of Japanese influence and reminded me of some of the Hakushu expressions.
Score 86/100
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Categories: Kaikyo