Hakushu! - Bless you.

Prior to a full Auchentoshan-tasting with Nick "Kiwi" Ravenhall, we sat down and tried a couple of Japanese malts. One stuck out his sore thumb and I had to pick a bottle up at Systembolaget to see if I still thought it was as good afterwards: Hakushu 18.

Meant to be pronounced like a sneeze (only in Japan, friends, only in Japan), the Hakushu 18yo is a - to use Thomas Clydesdales words - proper sledgehammer. Complex with both sherry and bourbon casks hitting the palate; the sweet raisiny fruitiness of the sherry mixing with the vanilla streaks of bourbon. What a massive malt!

Funny that the biggest surprises these days come from the land of the rising sun.
But then again, they did give us the Ninja-films after all.

If you can lay your hands on a bottle, do not hesitate. Make sure to pick one up.

That's the doctors order.

Turning japanese... I really think so

AH, nothing compares to you. Or, not much at least. Just got back from Systembolaget and got myself a Hakushu (pronounced much like a sneeze, apparently), and it looks great. The little nip I got the other day of this 18yo was very promising indeed.

Watch this space.
Japanese whisky is the new black.