Nikka Yoichi 20yr 1988 Vintage

Japan – 55%ABV – 700ml bottle – $|£|€ ???

No matter where I look, this whisky is sold out.  And, I think I know why  (see my notes below) – here’s what the good folks over that The Whisky Exchange have to say about it:

“A follow up to the incredible Nikka 1987 vintage 20yo that won the World’s Best Single Malt at last year’s World Whiskies Awards, this 1988 is a full-strength mix of both light and heavily-peated whiskies from new oak, refill casks, bourbon barrel and sherry butts – sounds phenomenal.”

Phenomenal??  Hell yes.  A HUGE thanks to The Whisky Wall for the sample!

On the nose Oh mercy, what an amazing nose!

Very strange notes of baklavah, pipe tobacco (being smoked), kim chee and sherry.

Deep dried fruit (like a fried compote filled with plums and apricots – actually, I’m reminded of a Charoset I had a couple of years back.).

Insanely easy to nose.

A tad spicy and (like many Japanese whiskies I’ve had) some sweet top notes that remind me of bourbon.

Green tea and dark chocolate with elegant peat smoke.

On the mouth Like chewing on chocolate covered fresh tobacco leaves.

Both salty and smoky (like smoked capers).

Dried dates and papaya.  Floral potpourri.

Stewed fruits then a highlight on sweetly smoked lemons.

Finish Lasting fruit – every dried fruit imaginable, lovely & lasting.

In sum– Quite remarkable, really; nearing on ridiculous (or ludicrous) as to how good this whisky was.  The balance is remarkable and at 55%, with the nose/palate/finish combination it’s very drinkable.  Only 3500 bottles were made available and, you guessed it, not in the US.  Feck.

This is a very contemplative dram.  If you can get your hands on some of this, save it for some “YOU” time.  Sit back, enjoy the cool breeze (maybe throw a sweater on, light a fire) and think about “what it all means”.

Rick’s Mystery Dram series – Week 8 of 10 – Sample #9, #9, #9, #9

Whiskey sample number nine.  Another American whiskey sample from Rick.

As I mentioned in the 3rd post for this “Rick’s Mystery Dram” Series, I’ve decided to make this a wee bit more interesting by sending out a mystery dram to the correct guesser of the week’s mystery dram or, if there has been no correct guess, the sample goes to a commenter (randomly chosen).  Last week, “Dutch” won the mystery dram and has asked for a sample of some fine American whiskey.  Dutch, I’ve got a nice one on it’s way to you.  I think you’ll like it a lot.

Details on how to win a mystery dram sample (which will be Scotch or American whisk(e)y, your choice) are listed below, after the review.

Review time!

On the nose Big spicy nose with hints of buttered popcorn and spiced honey.

Buttered toast.

Fresh corn.

Oak and potpourri, mostly oak.

Caramel protein bars.

On the mouth Hot hot hot!

The nose did not tell me that I would be drinking Sterno.

Hot, thin mouth feel with notes of apple pie and blueberry jam.

Finish Short with flavor, long with spirit fire.

In sumThis is a spicy hot one for sure but there is some enjoyable corniness on the nose which hints at some corn influence.  Corn & rye, this is my guess.  This is a slow sipper for sure.  One to help the summer go by faster – mainly because there’s so much alcohol content to this whiskey that, if you drink too much of it,  you’ll be passed out cold until autumn time comes around.

The clues

  • Lots of corn notes on the nose with a bit of blueberry jam and oak.
  • Pure fire palate – my guess is we’re looking at something over 55% ABV, very spirity.
  • Leaves your mouth burning

JMSWS antes up!

For those who attempt to guess – each week I will be sending out one mystery dram (a small 5cl bottle) and the first person guesses correctly wins the dram.  Actually, if there are no correct guesses for the week then a winner will be chosen at random.  You win whether your right or not (like a weatherperson – right or not, s/he still has a job)!

So again, I will be awarding a free whisk(e)y sample every week to one lucky winner (whether you guess correctly or not).

How do I enter to win you ask?

Easy, comment on this post with what you think the mystery dram of the week may be.  It’s that simple.

I will let you choose the type of mystery dram — Scotch or American Whiskey (though that’s all you’ll know about it).  And if you’d like, you can send me your tasting notes and I’ll post them for my readers to guess at.  If you’d prefer the blind tasting to be between just you and me… that’s cool too.

For previous “Rick’s Mystery Dram” entries :

Here’s Mystery Dram #1 (which ended up being Parker’s Heritage First Edition)

Here’s Mystery Dram #2 (which ended up being Parker’s Heritage Golden Anniversary)

Here’s Mystery Dram #3 (which ended up being Evan Williams Single Barrel, 2000 vintage, barrel # 234)

Here’s Mystery Dram #4 (which ended up being Tonala 4 year Anejo tequila)

Here’s Mystery Dram #5 (which ended up being Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve, 10 year)

Here’s Mystery Dram #7 (remember, there was no #6 dram.  #7 ended up being Jefferson’s Presidential Select, 17 year, batch #3)

Here’s Mystery Dram #8 (remember, there was no #6 dram.  #8 ended up being Sazerac Rye 18yr which, by the way, completely threw me off.  Not what I was expecting from a rye whiskey.  I liked it anyway.)

The Whisky Guild will be hosting a “Balvenie Experience Room” on their Cruise on the Hudson on August 26th

I received this in my inbox yesterday and wanted to share it with you.  Whisky *and* a cruise?  Come on!

On top of all the other whiskies on the Whisky Guild’s “Cruise on the Hudson” (partial pouring list shown below the press release), you will NOT want to miss this great opportunity such as this  – to taste all of these whiskies from The Balvenie being poured by Mr. Sam Simmons (Dr. Whisky) in a nice intimate setting – The Balvenie Warehouse 24 Experience Room.

If you’re not already a member of  The Whisky Guild, you may want to check them out and join today.  It’s a great community of whisky lovers and you may already know a guild member or two (heck, I’m a member).

You can click on the Press Release below to get to The Whisky Guild’s to order tickets.

Please drink responsibly – Tickets are non refundable

Partial Whisky Pouring List of 2010
ABERLOUR 12 YR
ABERLOUR 16 YR
ABERLOUR A’BUNADH
Ancnoc 12 YR
Ancnoc 16 YR
Ardbeg 10 yr
ARDBEG UIGEADAIL
ARDMORE TRADITIONAL
ARDMORE 30 YR
BalBlair 1997
BalBlair 1991
The Balvenie Classic
The Balvenie 12yo Signature, Batch 1
The Balvenie 12yo Signature, Batch 2
The Balvenie 12yo Signature, Batch 3
The Balvenie 14yo Golden Cask (Travel Retail Exclusive)
The Balvenie 14yo Caribbean Rum (launching Sept 2010)
The Balvenie 16yo Balvenie Rose (Distillery Exclusive)
The Balvenie 17yo Islay Cask (rel. 2001)
The Balvenie 17yo New Wood(rel. 2005)
The Balvenie 17yo New Oak (rel. 2006)
The Balvenie 17yo Sherry (rel. 2007)
The Balvenie 17yo Rum (rel. 2008)
The Balvenie 17yo Madeira (rel. 2009)
The Balvenie 17yo Peated Cask (launching Sept 2010)
The Balvenie 21yo Port Wood
The Balvenie 25yo Single Barrel
The Balvenie 30
The Balvenie 1978
BAYWAY MACALLAN 16 YR
BAYWAY EVAN WILLIAM 99
BAYWAY ELMER T. LEE
BAYWAY BLANTON’S
BAYWAY JACK DANIELS
BUSHMILLS
BUSHMILLS 12 YR
BUSHMILLS 16 YR
BUSHMILLS 21 YR
BUNNAHABIN 12 YR
BUNNAHABIN 18 YR
BUNNAHABIN 25 YR
CLONTARF Black Label Blend
Connemara
Connemara CS
CRAGGANMORE
DALWHINNIE
DEANSTON 12 YR
DEANSTON 30 YR
Danny Boy Irish Whiskey
Douglas Benrinnes 13 YR
Douglas Blair Athol 13 YR
Douglas Bowmore 18 YR
Douglas Bunnahabhain 12 YR
Douglas Glen Grant 31 YR
Douglas Laphrioag 15YR
Douglas Macallan 20 YR
Douglas Port Ellen 25 YR
DRUMGREY
THE GLENLIVET 12 YR
THE GLENLIVET 15 YR
THE GLENLIVET 16 YR Nadurra
THE GLENLIVET 18 YR
THE GLENLIVET 21 YR
THE GLENLIVET XXV
GLENFIDDICH 12 YR
GLENFIDDICH 15 YR Solera
GLENFIDDICH 18 YR Ancient
GLENFIDDICH 21 YR Rum Cask
GREENORE 8 YR
GLENMORANGIE 10 YR Original
GLENMORANGIE Lasanta
GLENMORANGIE Quinta Ruban
GLENMORANGIE Nectar D’Or
GLENMORANGIE Astar
GLENMORANGIE 18 YR
GLENMORANGIE Signet
GLENMORANGIE SONALTA PX
HIGHLAND PARK 12
HIGHLAND PARK 15
HIGHLAND PARK 18
HIGHLAND PARK 25
HIGHLAND PARK 30
Four Roses
Four Roses Single Barrel
Jefferson’s American Bourbon
Jefferson’s Reserve  Bourbon
Jefferson’s Presidential 17 YR
Jewels of Scotland Speyside 8yr old
Jewels of Scotland Springbank 1991
Jewels of Scotland Caperdonich 27yr
Jewels of Scotland Caperdonich Bunnahabhain 1979
Johnnie Walker Red
Johnnie Walker Black
Johnnie Walker Green
Johnnie Walker Gold
Johnnie Walker Blue
KINGS CREST 25 Year Old
Knappogue CastleLAGAVULIN 16
LAPHROAIG 10 YR
LAPHROAIG 10 YR CS
LAPHROAIG QUARTER CASK
LAPHROAIG 18 YR
LAPHROAIG 25 YR
LEDIAG 10 YR
LONGMORN 16YR
THE MACALLAN FINE OAK 10
THE MACALLAN FINE OAK 15
THE MACALLAN FINE OAK 18
THE MACALLAN FINE OAK 21
THE MACALLAN 12
THE MACALLAN 18
Michael Collins Blend
Michael Collins Single Malt
KILBEGGAN
LOMBARD Pebble Beach 12yr
LOMBARD Gold Label Old Blend
LOMBARD Tidal Ebb Driftwood
OBAN 14 YR
OBAN 18 YR
OBAN DE
Old Pulteney 12 YR
Old Pulteney 17 YR
Old Pulteney 21 YR
PC7 Port Charlotte
PC7 Port Charlotte Unity 61%
Sam Houston Bourbon
SCAPA 16 YR
SINGLETON
TALISKER 10
TALISKER DE
TALISKER 18
TOBERMORY 10 CS
TOBERMORY 15 YR 1795
Tuthilltown  Single Malt
Tuthilltown  New York Corn
Tuthilltown Baby Bourbon
Tuthilltown Four Grain Whiskey
Tuthilltown Manhattan Rye
THE TYRCONNELL
THE TYRCONNELL Maderia
YAMAZAKI 12 YR
YAMAZAKI 18 YR
HIBIKI 12 Year Old
Washmund’s Single Malt
Washmund’s Clear Spirit

AND MANY MORE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES

Plus over 20 Different Wines

Bruichladdich X4+3

Islay region – 63.5%ABV – 700ml bottle (not available through US stores) – £49 | €58

E=MC2 | a2 + b2 = c2 | ei∏ = -1 | Ax = b <—– what does it all mean?  Perhaps Bruichladdich’s X4+3 can help us solve problems such as these (or at least get us tipsy enough so as we just don’t give a rat tuckas about it…).

The Bruichladdich X4+3 is a damn interesting… whisky?  Hmmm, let’s see.

Ok, before I begin, please know that I am not one for the technicalities.  Actually, scratch that.  I LOVE geeking out on all of the technical ins-and-outs of…pretty much anything, but, ESPECIALLY whisky (oh yeah, and guitar effects pedals).  I just don’t like writing on these subjects.  Too many damn words.  I will, however, try to summarize some techy stuff for you and hope that I get it all right[ish].

Most whiskies (be they Scotch, American, Japanese, Welsh, Swedish, etc, etc…) are distilled twice, two and a half times or three times.  That’s just how it is folks.  Almost all Scotch whisky is distilled twice (The Campbeltown whisky “Springbank” is distilled 2.5 times and Hazelburn distills 3 times).  The Irish, for the most part distill 3 times and it’s a bit of a mixture here in the US.

The good folks over at Bruichladdich thought that they’d go and one-up everyone by quadruple distilling their spirit (unpeated spirit) then age it for 3 years in both ex-bourbon and French oak barrels.

So, 4x distilled, aged three years (X4+3… get it?  Good.).

On top of this, the spirit that goes into the barrels is corked at 90%ABV (feck!).  The average is in the 60’s (63.5 – 67% – average.  Though, some may say otherwise).

Is this the best example of “mine is bigger than yours” or what?

Truth be told, this process is nothing new and the Bruich’laddies are not trying to one-up anybody.  This process of quadruple distilling goes back hundreds of years but has not been mimicked until present date.  The earliest mention of it was back in 1695 by Martin Martin.  He explained the drinking of this type of spirit as such: “…The first taste affect all the members of the body.  Two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if ANY man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath and endanger his life.”

G-d, I’m getting thirsty!

So, is this or is this not whisky?  Re-cap: traditional whisky is 2-3 times distilled, poured into barrels at 63.5% ABV.  The X4+3 is quadruple distilled and poured into barrels at 90%ABV…

Eh, screw it.  Let’s just taste this stuff.

On the nose Powerfully strong and filled with limes, grapefruit, strawberries and rocket fuel.

I’m actually getting some grape lollypops and cranberry juice here.

Not as chemically as I expected but powerfully spirited!  Candied fruits.

With water — Peppery (think scotch bonnet – sweet and feckin’ hot as $hit), gooseberries, toy model glue.

On the mouth Bent plastic superheroes, He-man toys and Transformers (More Than Meets The Eye™).

**Loads** of poached pears with touch of cinnamon.

With water — All of the focus is on those poached pears.  Straight forward but now getting duo-dimensional as some malty notes reared their head(s).

I liked it more without water when I got those plasticy notes along-side the pear notes.

Great mouth feel with water.

Finish The first three layers of skin in my mouth have been removed but, I’m cool with that.

In sumThis is one to bring out to parties to say, “Hey guys/gals… check this out!”.  It’s beats huffing glue, that’s for sure!

All joking aside, I would never reach for this.  However, the X4+3 is a damn interesting dram and one that may work quite well with the mixologists out there (what, with all the fruits and high alcohol content).  Also, kudos to Bruichladdich for doing something that has not been done for centuries, bottling it and marketing it.  That’s brass balls baby!