Review for Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Classical Edition

Brand	Ichiro’s	Cask/Batch#	n/a
Series	Malt & Grain Classical Edition	Vintage	n/a
Region	Japan	Bottled	n/a
Bottler	Distillery Bottling	Age	NAS
Type	Blend	Non-Cillfiltered	n/a
Casks	n/a	Natural color	n/a
ABV	48%	Whiskybase ID:	215108

Bottle photo source: Whiskybase.com

Remarks:
Revisited it again during a Whisky Networking event and had it in a blind tasting competition as the dram which secured me the first place.
I am usually not a big fan of Japanese Whisky but what comes out under the label Ichiro’s are just great Whisky.
You can’t do anything wrong with them.

Overall I rate this Whisky:

Nose:
Taste:
Finish:

Review written on 2024-04-01

Review for Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 505

Brand	Ichiro’s	Cask/Batch#	n/a
Series	Malt & Grain 505	Vintage	n/a
Region	Japan	Bottled	2020
Bottler	Distillery Bottling	Age	NAS
Type	Blend	Non-Cillfiltered	n/a
Casks	n/a	Natural color	n/a
ABV	50.5%	Whiskybase ID:	161704

Bottle photo source: Whiskybase.com

Remarks:
great Japanese blend.
I like the profiles of the Ichiro’s a lot.
Also with the higher ABV it transports the flavor much better.
Very complex and full in it’s profile.

Overall I rate this Whisky:

Nose:
Taste:
Finish:

Review written on 2024-04-01

Review for Yoichi Single Malt

Brand	Yoichi	Cask/Batch#	n/a
Series	Single Malt	Vintage	n/a
Region	Japan	Bottled	n/a
Bottler	Distillery Bottling	Age	NAS
Type	Single Malt	Non-Cillfiltered	n/a
Casks	n/a	Natural color	n/a
ABV	45%	Whiskybase ID:	73011

Bottle photo source: Whiskybase.com

Remarks:
Revisited it on an Whisky Networking Event where we had a flight of Japanese Whisky.
I want to rate it up because in direct comparison with the other Whisky I had there it shows a more complex body and a nice unique flavor profile. So I rate it up from 85 to 86 points. I really like the lime flavors in combination with the light smokiness.

Overall I rate this Whisky:

Nose:
Taste:
Finish:

Review written on 2024-04-01

Review for Taketsuru Pure Malt

Brand	Taketsuru	Cask/Batch#	n/a
Series	Pure Malt	Vintage	n/a
Region	Japan	Bottled	n/a
Bottler	Distillery Bottling	Age	NAS
Type	Blended Malt	Non-Cillfiltered	n/a
Casks	n/a	Natural color	n/a
ABV	43%	Whiskybase ID:	162294

Bottle photo source: Whiskybase.com

Remarks:
Not a bad whisky.
Nicely crafted blend with a lot of citrus and lemon fruits.

Overall I rate this Whisky:

Nose:
directly a lot of lemon and citrus fruits combined with a few sweet flavors. A little smoke shows up but it is not intense and is just a bit noticeable.
Taste:
Also here are the same fruity flavors like the once you find in the nose. feel young but with nice fresh flavors.
Finish:
nice fruity finish with a slightly smoky flavor. Not specially long but not short either.

Review written on 204-04-01

Review for Suntory Special Reserve

Brand	Suntory	Cask/Batch#	n/a
Series	Special Reserve	Vintage	n/a
Region	Japan	Bottled	n/a
Bottler	Distillery Bottling	Age	NAS
Type	Blended Malt	Non-Cillfiltered	n/a
Casks	n/a	Natural color	n/a
ABV	40%	Whiskybase ID:	79426

Bottle photo source: Whiskybase.com

Remarks:
well, like the name “Special Reserve” suggest that it is special, it is indeed something special. But not in an amazing way, rather it is special disappointing and very special round and short in the finish. Was nice to try during an event but I wouldn’t get a big bottle of it. Also I don’t need to have it again.

Overall I rate this Whisky:

Nose:
to me it feels very alcoholic in the nose for just 40% ABV.
Sweet and malty in it’s flavors with a few fruits but the alcoholic stinging is a bit annoying
Taste:
very smooth, soft and round. Seet with a few fruits as well as the malt again. Nothing wrong here but also nothing special.
Finish:
wow that was very short. went down damn quick.
Not many flavors to be found here. Just a bit dry at the end.

Review written on 2024-04-01