Writer's Tears Japanese Cask
From the distillery website
Natural, non-chilled filtered and bottled at cask strength, this rare oriental single cask showcases the stunning influence of Japanese Mizunara Oak from the foothills of Mount Fuji on triple distilled Irish Single Pot Still married with Irish Single Malt. Bottled at an impressive 55% ABV.
Nose: Flashes of green fruits, apple and pear, and a distinctive pot still base.
Taste: Hints of vanilla and clove give way to exotic oriental notes of Sandalwood, coconut and Japanese incense.
Finish: A truly unforgettable trip around the orient
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Deep honey-gold, viscous, forms a thin line which eventually beads before falling as thin, slow legs.
Nose: An initial burst of sandalwood, quickly giving way to caramel, coconut and vanilla, woody oak notes lurking in the background.
Palate: Straight into a hit of peppery spirit and oaky, tannic astringency. Gives way to more honey sweetness, caramel, butter pastry and a hint of dark chocolate Bounty bars.
Finish: Short, hints of pine forest, slight sugar sweetness, cinnamon and ginger spice.
Summary: This is another interesting whiskey from the Writer's Tears stable, with the Mizunara oak cask certainly exhibiting an effect on the spirit. I didn't get any of the Japanese incense notes described but that initial burst of sandalwood was certainly very evident and very welcome, the only disappointment being that it was only a fleeting element in the mix.
This is another whiskey which takes water well, reducing that peppery prickle and the drying oak tannin effect to reveal more of those buttery caramel notes. At €90 it's not a cheap whiskey, but with an abv of 55% and it's ability to withstand a few drops of water you will probably get more than the usual number of drams out of a bottle. It's certainly worth a look, and I'm very glad I got the opportunity to try it.
If you would like more information on Writer's Tears whiskey, or Walsh Whiskey, follow the link to the company website
This sample was part of a 4 dram tasting selection from the current Writer’s Tears range as part of a #TweetTasting session organised by @TheWhiskyWire and Walsh Whiskey.
Transparency: this sample pack was received free of charge for independent review. The author has no affiliation with the distillery, all opinions are my own and remain completely impartial.
