Like the 2 previous posts, we’re still in Japan, but this time, it’s from my tasting notes notebook.
Last summer I took part in the Dramming.com Freestyle Blind Tasting contest (which of course, I utterly failed and probably finished last :-\ ). This one was mark in blue and I guessed it to be the standard J&B…
but the correct answer was ‘Isawa 1983 Vintage’. Of course I never heard on this whisky (distillery and brand), so I had to use Google here 🙂
Isawa is the name of the single malt produced at Monde Shuzo wine company at their Monde Shuzo distillery. This 1983 vintage is their first official bottling, although now they other bottlings available such as ‘Isawa Standard’ (NAS) and ‘Isawa 10yo’. and the bottle itself is a unusual 660ml sized bottle.
So what did I think of this one back then?
Isawa 1983 Vintage (NAS, 43% ABV, £85)
Nose: Unusual nose. mostly wet cardboard & wood, resin, vanilla is hiding there too, tobacco
Palate: Wet wood & cardboard, cigar smoke & ashes, bitter spices. Ugh.
Finish: Medium length, woody notes, bitter spices
Conclusion: Disliked it (and I’m gentle here…), coarse and not to my liking. some says this is special, but for me it was special bad. It was the least liked one in the blind tasting competition. It’s a one time experience and it should stay so.
Nose: Starts with strong red wine notes, oak wood. Later more red fruits & berries then wine, dark chocolate. Later some orange flavours shows up. Very rich nose!
Nose: Initial burst alcohol but then becomes gentle, strong fruity notes – pears, peach, apricots, red berries. Vanilla and some oak wood. It’s fruit sweet but also have a strong undercurrent of spices and weak metal note
Nose: despite low ABV there’s a huge alcohol punch at first, then strong vanilla notes comes up, creamy, sweet maple, oranges notes develops over time.
Nose: Strong pine wood notes (Rye), gentler and rounded then Lot No. 40, background bourbony vanilla notes, sweet caramel, some rubbery note too. Lovely nose!
Nose: Rough alcohol punch, lots of pine wood notes (which I understand is the rye trademark). Lots of Caramel/burned sugar. Spices led by cinnamon and even some slight solvent note as well.
e acrid notes at first, peat, brine, oily smell, vanilla. lots of punch here due to high ABV. initially some weak sherry notes but dissipated with time, sweet layer below the peat, not much wood showing. after a while some chocolate fudge and salty lemon/citrus
Nose: fruity and sherry influenced, raisins, pineapple. Background layer of honey and vanilla, definitly have some liquerish feeling to it, also some beeswax and plums notes. After few minutes in glass we have spices and honey with dash of lemon
Nose: ooh, this one is young and kicking whisky – lots of vanilla, honey, sweet citrus and oaky wood notes, chocolate fudge, quite punchy at first, then relax in glass. Very fresh and light dram. After a while in the glass showing strong notes of new make spirit
Nose
Nose: Comparing to the 1997 above, much more restrained – less fruity and heavier. The Vanilla and honey notes shows some muscle here. nail varnish, some sherry-like notes of sultanas and red berries, cinnamon, peat that crawls to the front over time
Nose: Starts with strong varnish and wax notes, then malty, zesty spices, old dusty wood. Some sherry notes dropped here and there like lightly dripping rain. Spices and fruity. After a while tobacco too, old leather, cocoa and some background light peat. then after another a minute or two, some bananas notes. it’s crazy stuff!
Whisky Gospel 