Kawasaki 1976 / 33 Year Old / Ichiro's Choice / Grain

The very rare Kawazaki grain distillery in Japan is now closed. Let’s see if it’s a shame. BTW, when seeing the very high strength of many old Japanese whiskies, one may wonder if they aren’t using cling film in the warehouses… Or if it’s only a matter of air dryness and temperature?

Colour: pale amber.

Nose: to be honest, this one smells much more of old rum than of whisky, even grain whisky at first nosing. Sugar cane, orange zests, whiffs of fermenting grass, a little maraschino… With water: wow! Much more on soy sauce, parsley, balsamico, leather and a little hessian. Also bananas flambéed. Gets also a little musky. Water works very well.

Mouth (neat): very thick, rich, infused with many many spices. Cough drops, honeydew, fir liqueur. This thickness makes it taste much smoother than expected considering the very high ABV. With water: some carefully made artisanal gingerbread. Various honeys and just a little varnish.

Finish: long, rich, coating, between pine resin and bananas flambéed. Comments: this baby is rather richer and heavier than most Scottish grains, even very old ones. Maybe a tad decadent? SGP:661 - 89 points.