Man I kept hearing folks rave about Japanese whiskey being different so finally hit the liquor store to figure it out myself. Grabbed four bottles that sounded legit based on some quick Googling.
First Steps
Planned a chill Saturday tasting with Mike who actually knows booze. Cleared the kitchen table – no snacks, just water and clean glasses. Cracked ’em all open one by one. The smells hit hard right away.
Cheap Bottle Shock
Went in blind with Nikka Days first. Poured a bit, swirled it. Smelled kinda light? Honestly felt cheap – like watered down bourbon or weak Scotch. Took a sip. Yep. Thin as heck. Tasted like… I dunno, vanilla extract somebody left open too long? All I got was fancy water vibes. Disappointing start.
Middle Shelf Surprise
Tried Hibiki Harmony next. Bottle looked fancy with that smooth paper wrapper. Shook out a pour – color looked rich. Smelled WAY better. Got fruit? Maybe plum? Some flowers? Different from bourbon’s caramel punch for sure. Taste was smooth as hell though. Too smooth? Vanilla and honey slid right down. Nice but… safe. Expected more character for the price tag.
Neat Experience
Yamazaki 12 came third. Pricy little guy. Unwrapped it slow. Sniffed the pour. Boom. Crazy complex. Fruity stuff like peach and orange, mixed with… baby powder? Weird combo that works somehow. Taste wasn’t soft like Hibiki – this one grabs your tongue. Spicy cinnamon, wood stuff. Almost choked neat! That Japanese oak hits different. Added a splash water – mellowed right out. Revealed layers. Weird fruit candy finish.
Smoky Left Hook
Saving the curveball for last: Yoichi Single Malt. Popped the cork – WHOA. Smell punched me in the face. Peat smoke? Like licking a campfire log. Tasted it. Salt spray, leather, medicine cabinet? Waaaay closer to Islay Scotch than I expected. Gritty and raw compared to the others. Definitely a mood.
Final Thoughts
Okay now I get it. This ain’t just “smooth Scotch”. My take:
- Light & Entry-level: Nikka Days felt like a waste of time. Skip unless mixing cheap highballs.
- Balanced Harmonies: Hibiki tasted fine but expensive for what you get. Pretty but simple.
- Complex Winners: Yamazaki 12’s my jam. Unique flavor ride that keeps you thinking. Worth hunting if your wallet agrees.
- Smoky Rebels: Yoichi ain’t playing nice. If you dig Islay, this could be your thing. Brutal honesty in a glass.
Japanese whiskey? Definitely not one thing. Some bottles whisper. Some yell. All cost more than they should. Glad I tried ’em. Still prefer bourbon mostly though.
