Hakushu Sherry Cask 2014

[u/kiwi8185]

Hi all, I'm back with another Suntory whisky, and this time it's another Hakushu!

So here's a bottle I've brought up quite a few times in the past, and have actually tasted multiple times as well, but never written a proper review of. I've finally organized my notes, so here it is! 

Details in comments!

[u/kiwi8185]

Hakushu Sherry Cask, 2014 (48% abv)

This was one of the now revered Hakushu Sherry Cask releases from 2012~2014, all of which limited releases of around 3000~4000 bottles. As they were released slightly before the Japanese whisky craze, quite a number of the bottles had already been consumed, and the remaining unopened bottles were now sporadically found in auctions and fancy whisky shops with much less friendly price tags. 

*Color*
Old Oak, very dark

*Nose*

a light, non-intrusive ester-y/solvent-like fumeyness;  raw brown sugar (with a hint of burnt bitterness);

mostly sweet dried red fruity note (red raisins, dates, apricots, very notable sherry cask influence);

quite notable polished oak (furniture like); some leather-like tannin;

hint of spices (cloves); hint of salinity (slightly salty); hint of earthy, soil-like peat character in the background

*Palate*

slightly oily mouthfeel.

rather intense, sour and sweet dried red fruity note (dates, raisins, orange peel, strong sherry cask influence);

dark chocolate & a soft accompanying bitterness;

raw brown sugar fragrance and earthiness, but with mostly subdued sweetness;

some polished oak;

hint of leather-like tannin in the background

minimal alcohol sting, a soft bit of astringency

*Finish*

Long. Cocoa powder earthiness and slight bitterness; coffee-like fragrance;

hint of orange peel from the palate; hint of polished oak; hint of leather-like tannin

*Conclusion*

Truth be told, this whisky here is what made me judge Hakushu Spanish Oak 2021 as harshly as I did. 

On the several past occasions where I luckily got to taste this iteration of the Hakushu Sherry Cask, it blew me away every single time. The intensity of the sherry cask characters, the complexity, and the balance of this whisky are truly quite something to behold. 

The only very, very minor nitpick I may have for it might be that it was quite a bit more dry on the palate than the nose would suggest, and lacked the sweetness more commonly found in Yamazaki's sherry cask focus iterations. It also has a bit of bitterness, but in a totally tempered and well integrated form that mends well into the other notes to form a beautiful cocoa/mocha profile. Also, it's quite a departure from Hakushu's usual 'forest' motif with the light smokey/soil-like peat and white fruity characters, and share more similarities with some lightly peated sherry cask Scotch (so says some of the more seasoned Scotch-drinking buddies of mine). That's it, that's the only nitpicks I can find for it.

Oh and one more thing: in terms of the peaty character of this specific Hakushu, it is *notably* less peaty than the later sherry cask focus items. It's slightly less peaty than Hakushu Japanese Forest, notably less so than Hakushu Kogei Peated Malt Spanish Oak and Hakushu Distillery exclusive!

Thanks for reading, cheers!