Mars, Phoenix and the Sun, 2012-2015, Bottled for Whisky Talk, Bourbon Cask No. 1490, 206 bottles, 61% abv.

This is the first of the Phoenix and the Sun series for Whisky Talk Fukuoka. One of the fewer desirable Japanese series that have made it around the globe... in terms of whisky shops. Not sure what the history is behind the label.

Nose: initially toast, but after some time it becomes wax, green apple skin, generally light fruits, abv is present.

Palate: sour plums, initial palate is mellow fruit juice, mid palate and back palate is wood, back palate is abv burn. Is there peat smoke? or just sourness? One dimensional here.

Finish: long, abv burn, peat or peat smoke? super wood.

Didn't appreciate that the abv intensity was there on the nose, kept preventing me from trying to explore new fragances and experiences. A relatively sour, perhaps citrusy pour, especially compared to the other two phoenixes. Its really hard to handle actually. I feel its very complex as well as very unbalanced, couldn't really accentuate or accomodate the intense wood and peat smoke that came up. Nonetheless, its very intense.

Grade: D+

Couldn't find quantifiable, reliable reviews.

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

🇭🇰 🇺🇸(LA, SF) -> 🇯🇵 (京都, 東京) -> 🇰🇷 (서울, 부산)