Taster

Nose: Grainy. Linseed oil. Pumpkin seeds. Peanut butter. Fresh garden mint. Almonds. With water, pear drops.

Palate: Sweet for the strength. The alcohol tickles tastebuds though. Nice syrupy feel with water. Releases floral and estery notes; banana, pear.

Finish: Oily, with a spicy fringe.

Comment: Quite a nice refreshing dram when generously diluted.

Score: 7.5

Taster

Nose: Ash-like, though strangely sappy as well with a wheat-chaff like simplicity. There's a light perfume like linden blossom and with water a nectarine note and some After Eight mint.

Palate: Sweet and sour again. Highly fragrant almost confected and slightly unbalanced.

Finish: Tart, long, quite hot.

Comment: There's often a battle between sweet and savoury in Japanese whisky...this time the balance hasn't been achieved.

Score: 7.5