Category Archives: – Japanese Whisky

Chichibu ‘The Peated’ 2012-2016, 54.5% – Ichiro’s Malt

Posted on 5 October 2021 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

It’s not often that I get to taste Japanese whisky that actually makes sense. That’s quite a bold statement, but my case is this: A lot of contemporary and available Japanese whisky are cheaply made and try to profit of … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Chichibu | Tagged 2012, Advent Calendar, Chichibu, Fiddler's, Ichiro Akuto, Ichiro's Malt, Japan, Japanese Whisky, Jon Beach | Leave a comment

Chichibu IPA cask, 2017 edition, 57.5%

Posted on 5 March 2019 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

I have very limited experience with IPA cask whiskies. Mostly because there aren’t many around. And, honestly, if Glenfiddich’s version is anything to go by, that’s not a bad thing. I tried a sip of this whisky at Maltstock last … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Chichibu | Tagged Chichibu, Ichiro's Malt, IPA cask, Japan, Japanese Whisky, Jon Beach, Maltstock, Masterclass, Tasting, Tatsuya Minagawa | 1 Comment

Suntory Royal Special Reserve, 43%

Posted on 30 November 2018 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Sometimes you get your hands on a very strange and sort of unique sample. In this case it’s a very old Suntory from the 1960. From back in the days when Japanese whisky was anything but popular, not even in … Continue reading →

Posted in - Blended Whisky, - Japanese Whisky, Suntory | Tagged Blended Whisky, Japanese Whisky, Suntory | Leave a comment

Just short of greatness

Posted on 15 August 2017 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

You know that feeling when you are tasting a very, very good whisky, but somehow it just doesn’t cross the magical 90-point threshold? You realize that you’re tasting whisky that’s way above average, but you can’t shake the feeling you … Continue reading →

Posted in - Irish Whiskey, - Japanese Whisky, Dailuaine, Yamazaki | Tagged 1974, 1990, Berry Brothers and Rudd, Dailuaine, Irish Single Malt Whiskey, Limited Edition, NAS, The Whisky Agency, Yamazaki | Leave a comment

Yamazakura 16, 40%

Posted on 26 May 2016 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

This Japanese blended whisky is an exclusive release for Europe. It more or less showed up unannounced, but there has been some information given on Nonjatta.com. Apparently it consists of 16 year old whisky that was distilled somewhere in the … Continue reading →

Posted in - Blended Whisky, - Japanese Whisky, Yamazakura | Tagged Blended Whisky, Bottle Share, Fukushima, Japanese Whisky, Sasanokawa Shuzo, Yamazakura | Leave a comment

White Oak 14 and 15 years old – Eigashima Shuzo distillery

Posted on 25 February 2016 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

Eigashima is a Japanese whisky distillery that I know mostly of their Eigashima releases in those small dumpy bottlings. However, they also have their White Oak brand which releases some single malts now and then, mostly limited edition that never … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Eigashima, White Oak | Tagged Akashi, Eigashima, Japanese market, Japanese oak, Japanese Whisky, Mizunara cask, White Oak, White wine cask | Leave a comment

Yamazaki 1984-2009, 48%

Posted on 4 February 2016 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

A while ago I traded a sample with whisky buddy BP. He’s a fanatic of Japanese whisky and kindly offered a dram of Yamazaki 1984. Knowing how good Yamazaki can be, and the rarity of the stuff at the moment, … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Yamazaki | Tagged 1984, Japan, Japanese Whisky, Suntory, Yamazaki | Leave a comment

Yamazaki Limited Edition 2014, 43%

Posted on 5 January 2016 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

A while ago I reviewed the 2015 edition of Yamazaki’s Limited Edition. As with anything related to Japanese whisky, it was a rather popular post in last year’s statistics. I might even have had the first review of that online. … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Yamazaki | Tagged Japan, Japanese Whisky, Limited Edition, NAS, Suntory, Yamazaki | Leave a comment

Advent Calendar Day 2: Yoichi, 43%

Posted on 2 December 2015 by Sjoerd de Haan-Kramer

With the ridiculous popularity of Japanese whisky of the last couple of years, the distillers have had to remove the age stated whiskies from the market. No more Yoichi 10, 12, 15, 20, and the same goes for Miyagikyo, and … Continue reading →

Posted in - Japanese Whisky, Nikka, Yoichi | Tagged Advent Calendar, Drinks by the Dram, Free Sample, Hokkaido, Japan, Japanese Whisky, Master of Malt, NAS, Nikka, Yoichi | Leave a comment