Writers Tears Japanese Cask Finish

1. What they say

Natural, non-chilled filtered and bottled at cask strength, this rare oriental single cask showcases the stunning influence of Japanese Mizunara Oak from the foothills of Mount Fuji on triple distilled Irish Single Pot Still married with Irish Single Malt.

Bottled at an impressive 55% ABV.

https://www.walshwhiskey.com/our-whiskeys/our-whiskeys-writers-tears/

2. Official tasting notes

• Nose: Flashes of green fruits, apple and pear, and a distinctive pot still base. over a unique Pot Still spice.
• Taste: Hints of vanilla and clove give way to exotic oriental notes of Sandalwood, coconut and Japanese incense.
• Finish: A truly unforgettable trip around the orient.

3. Details

• ABV 55%
• Age NAS
• Bottler Walsh Whiskey
• Bottling Japanese Cask Finish
• Cask Mizunara Oak
• Category Irish whiskey
• Cost €90
• Origin Undisclosed
• Region Ireland
• Released 2021
• Vintage Undeclared

4. What I say

Writers Tears Single Pot still whisky was the opener for the #WritersTearsWhiskey Tweet Tasting hosted by Steve Rush @thewhskywire on 22nd November 2021. The third expression we sampled featured a finish in Japanese Mizunara Oak, reportedly difficult to work with as Mizunara is much more porous than American or European oak wood. It is also rare to see these casks used outside of Japan.

5. The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

• Colour Amontillado (10/20) slower, medium-sized tears and legs.
• Nose sweet and woody, cherry & orange blossom and double-dip sherbet sweeties, biscuity and buttery shortbread, apple jelly, wood polish.
• Taste Med-light bodied, oily and some sticky caramel, lots of cracked black pepper, sappy cedar wood, liqourice dipped in sea salt crystals, Nori-wrapped lychee and coconut, almond croissants, slight bubblegum feel about it?
• Finish Long, herbal, fennel, icing sugar sweet and drying

6. Overall

Not as favoured as the sweeter Icewine cask, this had a slighty more savoury and dare I say Umami feel about it following the Mizunara oak finish. More elegant in presentation and worthwhile spending longer with this one, this is a sip and savour dram, especially when you consider the unusual and rare nature of its construction.

7. Score 84/100