Here is the third of the three NAS Yoichi malts that I purchased at the distillery. Together with the previously reviewed Woody & Vanillic and the Peaty & Salty, this Sherry & Sweet is one of three forms of Yoichi’s distillate that are used in Nikka’s blends. I rather liked the other two despite their lack of age and am curious to see what I make of this one. Let’s get right to it.

Yoichi “Sherry & Sweet” (55%; from my own bottle)

Nose: There’s some young oak but there’s also a lot of raisiny sherry. On the second sniff there’s some pencil lead and some dried apricot and some orange peel. A few drops of water push the oak and pencil lead back and pull out notes of toffee and cream.

Palate: Comes in with the raisins and the dried apricot and orange peel leading the way; a bit of tannic bite as I swallow. Very approachable at full strength; rich texture. More citrus with water and the tannic note disappears.

Finish: Long. The oak takes the lead here but it’s not tannic or bitter. As on the nose and palate with water, though the oak remains in a spicy avatar.

Comments: This is somehow both quite obviously a young whisky and yet without the flaws of most young, heavily sherried whiskies. Which is to say it’s not tannic in either way and the sherry is not overpowering or cough syrupy. Not sure how they manage that but I can only imagine how good this would be if aged into the mid-teens. It’s still very nice as it is.

Rating: 88 points.