The nose offers earthy, umami, and sherry vibes. The palate is quite a journey. Chocolate, umami, oak, stewed pears, and a tannic sherry take you for an elegant ride that hit all the taste receptors as it goes down. The sherry is a bit overpowering though for the price. Also, an unusual sour note of the koji (pear) brings a subtle reminder of sake (koji-fermented 100% barley), and for some it will be a deal-breaker. I can see the high scores from critics, but I know some will not like it. So is it worth it? Tough call. I compared it to the sherried Glendronach CS, and the Glendronach was better, brighter, and more instantly pleasing. But this is for collectors who want something unlike anything they have, something more mystifying, and from that standpoint it succeeds. I don't regret it, and I look forward to how it might change on future sips (I'll update if it gets better or worse).
About this bottle
Hakata Whisky is distilled and matured at the Hikari Distillery (est. 1912) in Fukuoka, Japan. The whisky is made with 100% barley, part of which is fermented with koji, a type of mold typically used in shochu production. Sherry casks were used for maturation with the barrels housed in traditional-style warehouse. However, a few casks were matured in open-air warehouses with temperatures fluctuating from 95°F in the summer and 38°F in the winter. Hakata 16 Year is available in the US as of February 2023. (SRP $149.99)
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
Nose - Prunes, raisins, dark soy, dark chocolate Taste - Prunes, raisins, cherry juice, sweet savory soy sauce, dark chocolate, wet oak Finish - Light sweet/bitter, prunes, raisins, cherry juice Score - 82/100 Final Thoughts - The nose on this one felt very very similar to the 10 and the 12, but strangely felt a bit more muted. On the palate it felt a bit brighter like cherry/pomegranate juice. The savory nature of this malt came through once again with this dark soy vibe, but something about this felt a bit off near the end and through to the finish. It had this almost but not quite metallic vibe that threw things a bit off. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
