Tomorrow is the last day of 2014 and it will be the day of the year summary post so today, we’ll take a look at one semi-controversial whisky: Yamazaki Sherry Cask.
Why is it controversial? Because a guy with a panama hat selected the latest revision (2013) as the best whisky in the world in his best seller “Whisky Bible 2015” book.
Now, Mr. Murray isn’t a newcomer to controversial selections as many eyebrows were also raised upon his selections in the last 2 years with Glenmorangie Ealanta and Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2011.
So, as a whisky geek, I was very curious to taste this whisky (of course ) and see what’s all the fuss is about. Thanks to a friend (Thanks again Manny!), I managed to taste it along with Michael (See his review on Malt and Oak blog).
But before I diving into the tasting notes allow me to say that I’m a firm believer that whisky tastes and opinions are subjective. Each one has different taste buds, different set of senses, different past experience and you just cannot take ones selection and adopt it to yourself and not expect some fissures and disagreements between his notes and ranking and your own.
Frankly, my theory is that this selection was consciously done to provoke the public and to raise a discussion in the whisky community and the Scottish distilleries, and of course, to sell more books.
Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2009 (48%, NAS)
Nose: Fresh wood polish and color with vinegary sherry and sour berries. Then comes huge sweet concentrated plums and hints of pepper and exotic spices. Continue reading
Nose: Unusual nose. mostly wet cardboard & wood, resin, vanilla is hiding there too, tobacco
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
Whisky Gospel 