Month: June 2018

Whisky #533: Mars Maltage Cosmo Blended Malt Japanese Whisky

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Mars Maltage Cosmo Blended Malt Japanese Whisky. Kuyshu Island, Japan. Tasted at Chin Chin (Melbourne), $26.

Colour: Red neon glow.

Nose: Burnt caramel, floral, melting butter & honey. My trusty whisky tasting sidekick AB also got some butterscotch, albeit not as sweet.

Palate: Zesty lemon, black pepper, caramel, woody ice-cream sticks.

Finish: A drying, sharp finish at the front of the palate. Spicy pepper and oak notes in the fade.

Comments: A bit of a split personality this one; the nose is all sweet and buttery, but then the palate and finish are quite sharp and citrusy. A pleasant drop to get the palate warmed up for the long night ahead!

Whisky #532: Nikka Date Blended Japanese Whisky

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Nikka Date Blended Japanese Whisky. Sendai, Japan. ABV: 43%. Tasted at Tokyo Bird, $24.

Colour: Bright golden toffee.

Nose: Like ripping open a fresh pack of teriyaki beef jerky…though maybe that’s also because I’m sat in a fantastic izakaya bar here in Sydney (Tokyo Bird) with plenty of tasty morsels being grilled in the kitchen. A bit of time in the glass gives off some tropical fruit and lemon marshmallows.

Palate: Fresh oak forward. Lightly toasted bread with a hint of honey. Pepper and cloves later.

Finish: Cane, sugar cane, charcoal, charred meat. A salty, woody tang to finish.

Comments: The Nikka Date (pronounced “dah-teh”)  is a blend of malt and grain whiskies distilled through the Coffey stills at Nikka’s Miyagikyo distillery. It’s got much more character than most blends, a bit of punch that belies it’s lowish  43% ABV.

It has got layers upon layers, and in that respect it’s quite similar in character to the Nikka Coffey Malt that I reviewed quite early on in the Whisky a Day journey back at Whisky #245. It’s not seamless and tends to jump around with the flavours a little, but with time in the glass it’s like the whisky decides that it’s time to peel back another of the seven veils to reveal something new.

Whisky #531: Glenmorangie The Tayne Single Malt

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Glenmorangie The Tayne Single Malt. Highlands, Scotland. ABV: 43%. Tasted in the Barossa Valley with some very good friends after a weekend of wine tasting.

Colour: Filament glow.

Nose: Turkish delight, Juicy Fruit chewing gum, fairy floss and a touch of fresh orange peel. Paulie got some fresh caramel.

Palate: A creamy lemon dessert. Like some lemon sherbet dipped on creamy vanilla ice cream or the fresh creamy filling of a tart.

Finish: More zesty lemon tang and Chinese five spice; slightly salty.

Comments: A travel retail exclusive, the  Glenmorangie The Tayne was finished in ex Amontillado sherry casks. It’s an intriguing nose but a little disconnected with the palate – they’re both fine in isolation, but just quite different beasts.