Three Very Special Whiskies!
Last Wednesday night’s @TweetTastings was a rare treat as we got to sample the wares of Dekanta Whisky which is one of the largest specialist retailers of rare and fine Japanese whisky online. They Offer global delivery with a range of more than 10000+ whiskies!
The tasting was once again ably hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire and the whiskies sampled were:-
- Dekanta Whisky Asaka AOI Edition – Japanese Single Malt Whisky
- Dekanta Whisky Kigai – Japanese Single Malt Whisky
- Dekanta Whisky Kyoyu – World Blended Whisky
If you want to catch up on what all the tweet tasters had to say you can view their comments by searching for the hash tag #DekantaWhisky on Twitter.
So, what did I think?
Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!
Tasting Notes – Dekanta Whisky “Asaka” AOI Edition – Japanese Single Malt Whisky (51%)
Celebrating Dekanta’s Fifth Anniversary
Distilled 27-06-2017; Bottled 13-07-2020
Non-chill-filtered and no artificial colour
Matured for 3 years in a first-fill Bourbon barrel
Cask no. 17172
Released in June 2020, the dekanta Aoi Edition was only the second single malt release, and the first single cask, to come from Asaka distillery.
This release was named ‘oi’, which is the Japanese word for blue, so chosen because of the symbolic significance the colour holds in both Japanese and US culture.
Only 343 bottles available.
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Nose: Buttery sweet fruits – mainly apple. Fragrant lychees which is a revelation! The nose becomes very floral with promises of cane sweetness on the palate. Add in some biscuit, candied rose-petals and pear drops for an amazing nose that gets sweeter the longer it’s left. Palate: Yep! The cane sweetness is there as promised in the nose! Robust mouthfeel with lychees, rose and syrupy apples. Finish: Such a savoury finish where the palate gets all peppery and spicy coupled with a woody, tannin finish! Overall: If you’re after a smorgasbord of flavours in your whisky then this dram will not disappoint! |
| £194.99 |
Tasting Notes – Dekanta Whisky “Kigai” – Japanese Single Malt Whisky (60%)
Celebrating dekanta’s Fourth Anniversary
Distilled at Eigashima distillery 14-12-2011;
Bottled June 2019
Finished in Japanese Mizunara wood
Non-chill-filtered and no artificial colour
Channelling the spirit of the Samurai, while paying tribute to the origins of Japanese whisky in the Scottish whisky industry.
This whisky spent time maturing in a cask freshly emptied of Scotch whisky from the closed Port Ellen distillery, before being finished in a cask of Japanese Mizunara oak.
Only 352 bottles available.
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Nose: Very savoury and slightly smoke n’ peaty which makes me crave snacks! Some woody, sweet apples but that Marmite savoury is still there! You can also add in soy spice, liquorice and brown sugar to complete a feast of the senses! Palate: Satisfying mouthfeel. Savoury smoke and sweet in equal measure! Smooth liquorice and some peppery spice. Finish: Hard to believe but I’m now getting creamy chocolate on the finish – what a dram! Overall: Such a different dram to the Asaka AOI Edition! More savoury and smokey with less sweetness but there’s such a range of flavours you could nose and sample for hours! |
| £506.99 |
Tasting Notes – Dekanta Whisky “Kyoyu” – World Blended Whisky (52%)
Celebrating dekanta’s Sixth Anniversary
Blended and Bottled in Japan in June 2021
Non-chill-filtered and no artificial colour
The Kyoyi is dekanta’s inaugural World Blended Whisky, built around the concept of sharing.
Japan and Scotland have a long-standing friendship that has lasted through the ages. Taking its name from the Japanese word ‘to share’, the Kyoyfi is an ode to that partnership – featuring 26 Year Old whisky from three of Scotland’s best distilleries, expertly blended with young whisky from three of Japan’s rising stars.
Only 260 bottles available.
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Nose: Creamy, buttery, strawberry biscuits …. with added cream! More fruty ice cream – now with shortbread dipped in! Followed on with tangerines, blood oranges & slow-cooked, sugary, caramel pears. It then heads toward a more tropical nose. To finish up there’s mustiness, shoe polish and wood varnish notes! Palate: Caramel toffee with a light creamy texture – Yum! Sweet pears and oranges with some robust savouriness. Finish: Liquorice, creamy chocolate with growing peppery spice – what a joy! Overall: What can I say? Another stunner! |
| £272.99 |
My Favourites On The Night
Out of the three, I think it’s got to be:-
1. Kigai
2. Kyoyu
3. Asaka AOI Edition.
But I wouldn’t shut the door in your face if you turned up with any one of them!
So many flavours with these whiskies – the flavours just go on and on. Remarkably I also think there’s still more to discover!
Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire / @TweetTastings) for a great evening and of course, Dekanta Whisky (@DekantaWhisky) for sending such glorious, generous samples!
My fellow Tweet Tasters on the night were:-
@TheWhiskyWire @ocdwhisky @whiskyrover @Jotterface @WhiskyGeekPete @ReviewsWhisky @MaltMusings @whiskyRubhach @whisky_jamie @Whisky_And1 @VJOsgood @GaryMills01 @DramofWar @WhiskyWings @FiremanTone @SpiritAndWood @StillSurreal @Sake_Baku @LeaskPatrick @MaltBox @MrEdwardMilner @WhiskyWithMolly @ManyMilesWhisky @PhilScott101 @sprungatom @MaltWhitson @LeedsWine
