Yamazakura Fine Blended Whisky Black Label

Not trying to be malicious here, but this whisky has literally no redeeming qualities. It drinks fairly hot at only 40% abv which means it is very young, probably the minimum 2 years of aging to qualify as whisky. The nose presents as a mixture of rubbing alcohol and faint smoke. There is an astringent malty flavour on the palate and very little else, maybe a hint of lemon pith? It shows no evolution or complexity whatsoever as you hold it in your mouth trying in vain to find even a hint of something pleasant. If you enjoy drinking cheap vodka straight, this is your whisky

sugary, mid burn on the spiciness, mellow floral notes and berries 2 thin and lack complexity, but a easy drink with no burn - uncharacteristic, floral note 1.5 no peat but smooth, low sustain 1.5 Fruity floral sweet pep 2 Sweet floral light 3 End burn 1.75 2.25 Peppery, complexity, sharp, vanilla, 2 Peppery, cream vanilla, sweetness, pear - aside from the heat the rest is good 2.5 Mid sustain, oaky and woody 2 2

Quite the disappointment. The nose is for the most part smoky with hints of fruit (which for the life of me I cannot figure out because it's so tasteless), the palate falls flat without body, and the finish just isn't there. Picture a blend of water, sugar and cigarette.

Honestly, it doesn't deserve a long review. It is so poor, that I don't want to imagine drinking something worse. Metallic on the nose and alcoholic on taste. Short finish, but who would want a long finish of this... Very, very bad work. I would fire the blender.

On the nose, sweet with a little bit of caramel and fruit. On the pallet light smoke and less complex but easy to drink. Good for someone who wants to try smokey whiskey without crashing into scotches.

Not as terrible as some of these reviews would lead you to believe. That being said, it's a completely unremarkable whisky. Tastes like a grain forward budget blended Scotch.