September 2017 – grey whisky

Whisky 2017 – 162-165

The whisky legend, Toru Suzuki of Tokyo’s The Mash Tun visited Melbourne! He brought some special drams with him. While I missed the tasting (as I was in Sydney) he “just happened” to be at The Elysian.

4 very special drams.

162 – Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Cask #8259 59.9% (Kawasaki, Chichibu, Scotch) Sample 26.08.17
Menthol, stewed apricots, spearmint, passionfruit vine, apricot cake, maple syrup. Soy, butter, cream, short bread, leather, honey, chocolate mousse, raspberries.

163 – Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Cask #8258 59.0% (Kawasaki, Chichibu, Scotch) Sample 26.08.17
Honey, fairy floss, lemonade, 7-up, toast with butter and honey, rock melon, pineapple, raspberries Butter, toast, honey, salt, hazelnuts cooked in butter, salty chocolates, shiso, raspberry lollies, green bananas.

164 – Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Cask #7880 60.8% (Kawasaki, Hanyu) Sample 28.08.17
Leather, wood, soft salted butter, maple syrup on dry toast, carob, pipe tobacco, . Pouring melted butter into my mouth with plums, grapes, leather, salt, soy, smelling lavender on a hot day, orange zest, rose petals. Old whisky!!

165 – Cragganmore 27 for Club Qing and Mash Tun, Sherry Cask
Rock melon, leather, candle wax, old apples. Wax and fruity, white pepper, salt, lemon pith, coconut, passionfruit, cucumber.

Whisky 2017 – 160-161

I got to share some drams at the (Australian only alcohol) Bad Frankie in Fitzroy with the very knowledgeable Tori Suzuki of The Mash Tun in Tokyo and Kelvin and Yao of the Elysian.

160 – Fleurieu Distillery Rubicon
Anzac biscuits, toast with honey, dates, prunes. Honey, butter, salt, sweet tea – under done.

161 – Heartwood Epiphany at the Lakes 10 Years (Lark Port and Bourbon Cask)
Chicos, prunes, chocolates, French pastries, stewed apricot, dust. Pastries, raisins, chocolate, hazelnuts, marzipan, salted butter. Much simpler than most Heartwood but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Whisky 2017 – 153-159 – Edradour Tasting

153 – Edradour Caledonia 12 years 46%
Honey, lemon, aspirin, sarsaparilla, rhubarb. Dry Xmas spice, old butter funk, bitter herbs, apples, milk chocolate and tobacco.

154 – Edradour The Fairy Flag 15 Years 46%
Lemsip, chlorine, chocolate, honey on toast. Loads of floral honey, German Xmas biscuits, weak nuttiness.

155 – Edradour 10 Year Straight from the cask 58.9%
Caramel banana split, maple syrup, boot polish, raisins, buttered toast, stewed apricots. Sarsaparilla, strawberry jame and cream on scones, honey and butter on crumpets,

156 – Edradour Ballechin 10 46%
Chlorine, honey, autumn leaves, coals. Honey, coal, bones, apple juice, cream, chocolate mousse, fruit cup cordial, smoked jack fruit, mangos.

157 – Edradour Ballechin SFTC Bordeaux Cask 11 Years Cask 384, 55.7%
Honey, heather, melted butter, apple juice, fruit leather, boot polish, slight smoke, hazelnuts. Caramel, honey, rose hip, rubber, tar, digestives, wine tannins that are gentle, sulphur.

158 – Edradour Ballechin SFTC Burgundy Cask 13 Years Cask 12, 53.7%
Honey baked ham, ozone, dirt, chocolate dipped pretzels, black beans. Autumn leaves, stones, earthy, apple snow, dusty, orange and mango juice, textas.

159 – Edradour 17 Years 1999 Cask 812, 822 & 823 Bordeaux Hogshead Finish
Tinned pineapple, chalk, chocolate, cinnamon, berry jam. Pavlova, salt, woody, sugar cane, Coke with lemon slice, wine tannins, sweat milky tea.

Whisky 2017 – 150-151 – Helvetica, Perth

Two special drams to finish my time in Perth. Normally, I am not a fan of red wine casks but wow!

151 – Ichiro’s Malt ChichibuXHanyu Gasai for Isetan
Dusty apricots, carob, butter and spice cake, ozone, galvanized fence, hand cream, slight lemon zest. Hot malt, tobacco, leather, cream, slightly salt, old whisky, apricot bars, bitter herbs, boiled sweets, ice coffee.

152 – Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu first fill red wine for Isetan*
Massive nose, intense candle wax, buttered toast, boiling butterscotch, chocolate mouse, vintage soap. Manuka honey on buttered crumpets, aspirin, well structured tannins, bitter chocolate, brandy cream on warmed fruit cake, dried pears and peaches, raw cashews, toasted coconut.

Whisky 2017 – 149-150 – Helvetica, Perth

So, I’ve easily hit 150 this year. With all the work travel, I’ve somehow managed this. Helvetia is a nice little whisky bar in Perth with around 400 bottles. Some interesting Ichiro’s bottlings there too. Worth checking out if you are there. These two drams were excellent. I don’t know much about Bellwether except they are from WA and this was a monster at 70%.

149 – Bellwether Cask Strength Port Cask peated 30ppm, bottle 38/38
Leather, honey, tobacco, maple syrup, dates, green olives, scones out of the oven. Honey, butter, toast, dust and bones, tobacco.

150 – Kilchoman Caroni (Rum) Cask by LMDW 2011
Apple juice, dried apricots, leaf matter, heather, salted butter, rocks in an old fire, pound cake, roasted parsnips. Leather, salt, butter, apricot cake, fireplace, green herbs, honey, gun powder.

Whisky 2017 – 142-148 Japanese tasting

Another great tasting at The Elysian. The Yoichi was the stand out for me. Obviously the Speyside wasn’t a part of the tasting but a birthday dram bought for me.

142 – Mars Malt Le Papillon, 4yo, American White Oak #1558, 58%, 1 of 599 Bottles
Bananas, hazelnuts, kiwi fruit, pound cake, macerated cherries, fruit straps. Oat cakes, butter, salt, lemon zest, banana cake, green gras.

143 – White Oak Akashi 5yo Exclusive for Shinanoya, White Wine Finish #61091, 59%, 1 of 342 Bottles
Rubber, dried pears, soy sauce, slight butter, dusty, red apples. Rubber, peanut brittle, melted butter, toasted grains, salt, roasted onions, white pepper.

144 – Kirin Fuji Sanroku 2016 Limited Edition 18yo Blended Whisky Oloroso Cask Finish, 43%
Cooked apples, ice cream, spiced cloves, reef tanning oil, toasted almonds, butter, crushed ants. Dried peaches and apples, toasted almonds, butter.

145 – Yamazaki Limited Edition 2017, 43%
Pencil shavings, pound cake, muscat grapes, Earl grey tea, red apples. Fruit flan, raw hazelnuts, cream, sandalwood, pepper.

146 – Yoichi Distillery Limited Bottling “Woody & Vanillic”, 55%
Apple snow, leather, pencil shavings, vanilla, boot polish, porridge with maple syrup. Just incredible mouth feel, spice cake, honey, butter, bracken, dried banana, pencil shavings.

147 – Ichiro’s Malt The Peated 2016 Edition, 54.5%, 1 of 6350 Bottles
Banana, chlorine, brown bread, butter, apricot nectar, carob. Hay, grass, salt, ashes goats cheese, toasted peanuts, chocolate, carob.

148 – The Whisky Agency speyside 43 years, 1973
Candle wax, fake clove spice, stewed plums, egg pudding, dried pineapple, mint, cola. Butter, pencil shavings, wax, plums.