Japonism is a small sequence from German bottler Sansibar. It refers back to the artwork motion that included Japanese parts in Western artwork. The sequence unites their joint bottlings with Shinanoya in Tokyo, a connoisseur grocery store with a long-time deal with nice whisky. Particularly their Benriach 1976 cask #3029 gave them a variety of fame, even right here in Europe.
The newest (sixth) Japonism launch is that this Vintage Blended Scotch 1976. Whereas the label formally says Blended Scotch (actually, it says Blended Scocth…), it’s more likely to be a teaspooned Highland malt.
Japonism – Vintage Blended Scotch 1976 (49%, Sansibar with Shinanoya 2023, hogshead, 281 btl.)
Nostril: very refined, with orange juice, stewed yellow fruits, cooked apple and dried slices of mango. Previous paraffin and refined furnishings polish, in addition to drops of natural liqueur. Then dried banana chips, refined apricots and mint leaves. Delicate sandalwood and musk within the background. Natural honey, gentle chamomile, refined vanilla pods and exquisite, pleasantly dusty oak.
Mouth: oily and waxy, with an underlying sweetness. Mashed bananas, tangerines and stewed orchard fruits, together with leathery notes and spiced honey. Warming pepper. Then extra beeswax, honeysuckle and preserved apricots. Later a refined dusting of cocoa powder too.
End: medium to lengthy, on milk chocolate, lingering fruits, oaky notes and extra wax.
Excessive complexity, with some sensible old-style notes. It jogs my memory of these undisclosed 1973 Speyside or Secret Highland Malt whiskies. This might simply cross for a blended malt certainly – a fairly stellar blended maltat that. Offered out in Tokyo, however some bottles are nonetheless obtainable in Europe.
