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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