whisky review : Suntory Yamazaki 山崎 single malt 12 years old bottled @ 43%

whisky review : Suntory Yamazaki　山崎 single malt 12 years old bottled @ 43%

-Fourth Japanese
-Always twist-cap

Colour: dark golden coppery. Medium legs here, looks a tad oily.

Nose: Woods, sweet, hidden smoky notes, eucalyptus. It's a fresh nose with sweet malty notes.

Mouth: Very interesting malt here, tingly arrival,candied-coffee notes, a warm spicy note to it. More eucalyptus here but with a touch of sweetness, vanilla. A dash of water cools the spirit, makes it sweeter, and opens it up to a black licorice taste, but very light. A dash more will reveal more vanilla and licorice. There is also something sweet-sour to it, like sour floral notes...if that makes any sense. But not fresh flowers, more a sent, like from a soap (yes I did rinse my glass). Remains balanced, not too rough. A very interesting malt. Tingly on the tip of the tongue, high quality spirit.

Finish: leaves some sweet notes but still not long. A classic Japanese malt. High quality malt in composure, but very short finish, some sherried apples notes....and even some nectar soda notes.

B+ for the taste. Very good malt, interesting licorice/nectar tasting.
A- for the price. It's priced at around 63$ but I paid 53$ on-line. I'd be ok paying 55-58$ for it.
B+ for the presentation. The bottle is very nice and clean but they ought to think the box again....it's sad one.