Mars Komagatake Tsunuki Aging 2019 56% vs Nikka Taketsuru 21 yo 43%
Mars Komagatake Tsunuki Aging 2019 56%
Clean, young malt full of fresh flavours like toasted cereal, oatcakes, drizzled honey, loads of barley sugar, maltose and vanilla extract. Plenty of cut pears, pear eau de vie even, and the back of the nose presents the dusty spiciness of toasted rye flakes plus hints of some herbaceousness – rosemary or oregano? So a young and naked malt whisky at strength, perfectly executed without any feints or off notes. 85 pts
Nikka Taketsuru 21 yo 43%
Just to have a reference, I am revisiting a cheap blend from 2008 that became an expensive blend in 2021. I am guilty of not appreciating the quality of these Japanese blends when I first picked up a Glencairn. So, a perfectly executed whisky with precise measures of high quality sherry influence against lightly phenolic touches. In between I find toasted rice flakes, clean metal, soot, stained oaken work benches and plenty of tobacco. Engine oil, dried fruit of the purple sort (not too rich but just so), dark chocolate, molasses and just enough dessert spices like aniseed, some clove maybe liquorice, to provide an aromatic lift. Exit left with a spicy dry flourish. 89 pts
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