Hakutsuru Sho-Une Junmai Dai Ginjō

Rating: 15/23 N: Full with loads of melon and a big swirling complexity. Hints of licorice. Light vegetal notes at times, but nothing too distracting. P: Less full than the nose. Clean, some ethanol, melon, then spice. It's almost like it wants to be harsh, but it can't because its proof is too low. It's interesting that it kind of works. A bit of rice sweetness throughout. It isn't quite creamy, but the mouthfeel is fairly full. It's that spiciness that really makes this unique. It's sort of like mustard powder with a little prickliness. There's still a clean water aspect to this. It's actually quite smooth. I think I'm getting a bit of white pepper. F: Spice, clean water, ethanol, some suggestions of (non-sweet) rice. - Conclusion - The alcohol shows through a bit much and this isn't as decadent as the nose suggested. I really enjoy this, but it certainly isn't rocking my world. Mostly, it's smooth and easy to sip. I don't think I'd go below a 14, but a 17 seems too high. After a few days in the bottle, the alcohol and spice are reduced, making this more balanced and enjoyable. I'm leaning toward a 15. Actually, a little bit of cinnamon even starts coming out of the spice. Quite nice.