Yoichi ‘Yoichi’ NAS OB, 43%
Yoichi’s core range consists of this NAS, the 10yo, 12yo, 15yo and the glorious 20yo. This entry level version even comes in 50cl, probably so it’s easier on salarymen sitting at smoky Izakayas getting boisterous over haiborus.
The ladies need not feel left out, Nikka has obligingly created something for them as well:
HOKKAIDO FAIRY By Carlos Madriz
- Type : Long Drink
- Difficulty : Advanced
- Whisky : Yoichi
INGREDIENTS:
- 45 ml of Yoichi Non Age single malt
- 20ml of grenadine syrup
- 20ml of fresh lemon juice
- 5ml of absinthe
- lemon balm leaves
- soda water
PREPARATIONIncorporate all ingredients except soda water into a shaker, including a handful of lemon balm leaves.
Shake and strain into a highball glass.
Add quality ice cubes and fill to the top with soda water.
Garnish with 2 lemon balm leaves.
The downside of being terrible at Chinese is that I cannot decipher anything on this label!
Nose: Cannot believe this is a NAS, noses very differently from say a bad Scotch NAS. First brisk forest aromas and aromatic wood mixed in with some new make-y scents but its well ‘hidden’. Swirl the glass and the sherry elements appear. Barely ripe apricots, used leather, cherry juice. Also a little hot. Just a lick of smoke maybe.
Palette: Plastic, bittergourd and smoking leaves. Earthy with compost, then finally sweeter with red fruit and wood shavings towards the finish. The nose was better.
Finish: Rather short. Slightly fruity and slightly salty.
Actually not bad at all for a cheap mixer whisky (70SGD locally, far cheaper abroad). Clearly care has gone into the blending so that it stands up even in a glencairn. Difference between this and a bad NAS? No bananas, no huge vanilla, no obvious surge of active wood, instead it is a elegant balance between cost, enough richness and obvious youth.
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