Thursday, August 29, 2013

Usuikyou Single Cask Vintage 1983 64% abv


Nose: Extremely peculiar and out of the ordinary whisky that presents smells in stages. First round: Wet hessian bags, peeled whole potatoes steeped in water, tangy soil, freshly shorn sheep’s fleece and ointment (I’m thinking lanolin oil). This is followed by incredible decomposing vegetables and a tainted red meat smell. You’d think it would stop there but no - the somewhat unwanted and overpowering smells continue with wet towels left over night, smelly feet, caterpillars (possibly squashed?), metal salvage yards, fresh cardboard boxes, and Paper Mache paste (industrial glue and gelatin). Generally it is a fairly trashy smell. Past these assorted smells regular aromas begin to surface - not too many but their there: Orange tart, mild nutmeg, brine, and a tad earthy/peaty. Dilution enhances all the above and adds a barley grain infusion.

Taste: Eccentric whisky. Not for the faint hearted. Straight up a big mouth explosion but for many wrong reasons. As with the nose it is odd. Metallic, aluminum cans, tainted red meat, minerally, and Goya qualities. Then, things change a bit with assorted Indian spices, burnt rubber, raw peat, eucalyptus, menthol, and cracked pepper. There are also incinerated thin sausages from a BBQ, very numbing on the tongue. If I must be honest this whisky reminds me of the Akashi 12yo (palate only). A lot of water adds wheat and yeast extract and reduces the spice and rubber. For me the palate wasn’t so bad however, there is that decomposing element all along.

Finish: Long with a few unwanted tastes. Also it is metallic with bitter melon, minerals, rubber smoke, raw peat, charcoal, and barley sugar with water.

Comment: Although I would not say this whisky is completely disgusting, unfortunately it coats your mouth with a few unpleasantries that linger way too long affecting the taste of your next malt.

Info: This cask strength malt came from Monde Distilleries Ltd. in Yamanishi-ken. Monde Shuzo is better known for their wine production, their whisky production falls into the “small category sector” often referred to as “Ji-whisky”, which can be interpreted in a few ways but the most understandable terminology could be “micro”. It was bottled by an independent bottler named Tokuoka Ltd. in Osaka for their sub-division better known to some of us as Bon Repas (Marche). The whisky was named accordingly after the city Usui in Yamanashi-ken, and interestingly in the city lays Isawa village - ring a bell? For those in Japan who have visited Bon Repas/Marche will know of their other single malt release bottled at 43% abv with equally the same flavor profile: Isawa Vintage 1983. This is another must try before you buy folks. 

8 comments:

  1. Yes the price in Bon Marche often makes it tempting given its age and unusualness but ive never bought or tasted one.

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    1. Hi David, to be honest I have not gone into a Bon Repas (Marche) for a while. I've actually forgotten the price of the Isawa 83 vintage, I have a feeling it is around the 3.5k (yen) mark? I hope my review does not infulence your temptations in anyway. If you head into a store before I do please do let us all know the price for a reference. I won't hesitate to give you a sample of the cask strength.

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  2. I'm happy that you've tried it Clint. Saves me from doing so. I did however enjoy Monde's Crystal Blend. Very drinkable with none of what you have described in the mix.

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    1. I've heard better things about Monde Crystal that's for sure, Brian. I have not bought a bottle as of yet but will be doing so in a few days to follow up the "Monde" sessions. I take it the MC has none of the smells/flavours I describe for the Ukuikyou? Like always this review and comments are purely my opinion only, others may have a different perspective however, many people's perception of this is pretty similar. Could be a good deciding factor if planning on getting it. One extra thing I should say though, besides the unpleasant smells/tastes it is quite smooth given the massive ABV of 64% - but hey it is all about the aroma and palate regardless of it being a SC.

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  3. Over the years I heard a number of awful things about Usuikyou whisky, with the mix between metal and cardboard flavours often being mentioned along the way. Guess I'll keep my hands off it.

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    1. Hi Pierre, all the things you heard, out of interest was that from people who had bottles in Europe? I'd be surprised if the Usuikyou, well at least a few bottles, made their way to continental EU. I've noticed Sku has tried this also - same thoughts it seems.

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  4. Nope, Clint, no comments from anybody in Europe. The comments were mostly from people I chatted with in Japanese whisky bars. And then there was numen's legendary review of a 25yo on connosr.com - check it out!

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