Hakushu 1999-2013, The Owner's Cask, Whisky Shop 3rd Anniversary, Specially selected by Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, Hogshead no. DG41666, 210 bottles, 55% abv.

Whisky Shop W is actually the Suntory Whisky Shop W in Osaka. It isn't there now. They used to sell several Suntory bottles that are now considered hard to get. The bottle has very little information on it so the information provided on the title was from whiskybase.

Nose: boiled peanuts, slightly leafy, freshly peeled chestnuts, (water chestnuts?), apples.

Palate: very sweet, like toasted honey, minor fleshy fruit, with time there is some black pepper, back palate has some wood chips, a little smokey, a little spicey which later develops into black pepper.

Finish: long, mellow spiced apple cider.

This is a very sweet Japanese whisky, the nose is interesting with boiled peanuts and raw chestnuts, but after that it's just spiced honey through and through. Quite good though, well executed, quite strong flavors. Prefer the 2nd anniversary version over this one though.

Grade: B-

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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