https://youtu.be/aEzxNI4PHis

Blended whisky, for whatever reason, always seems to sit in a predisposed spot in some drinkers minds. We can put this down to years of marketing, or snobbish attitudes that still remain in whisky. The latter is dying out though, so that’s a plus.

Toki was introduced to the whisky market at an interesting and high demand point in the current world of Japanese whisky. Insane demand and the seemingly slow drip of Japanese whisky, even as a concept, is still reaching people. As a result, people want the best, the most awarded and what experts recommend. But alot of Suntory and Nikka’s most lauded products are now obselete for the everyday enjoyer of whisky.

Enter Toki. A combination of Chita, Hakushu and a few other products in the Suntory line, the idea of the style is to be light, fresh and very easy to drink. Can confirm that it hits these points rather well, and it’s affordable. Which isn’t a word that is associated with Japanese whisky too much these days.

Think of this product as a perfectly fine neat spirit, not expensive at all, but does the job well in the Japanese style. But it’s a very good quality mixer that has a huge versatility, but you can’t go wrong with a classic highball of this and gingerale, little slice of apple or lime as a garnish. Perfect.

It’s not going to blow your mind, but it won’t blow apart yout wallet if you want a Japanese whisky that hits all the trademark style points.

ralfy review 944 Extras – The Malt Moment.

ralfy review 944 – Auchroisk 13yo @54.9%vol: (Watt)

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 460: Strathenry 5 Year Old 2016 Carter’s Whisky

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries his first Strathenry. Strathenry? Never heard of it. InchDairnie? Huh? Carter’s Whisky? Uh… who is that? Don’t panic! InchDairnie is a new distillery, built in 2014, with the aim of providing some blenders with enough malt whisky for their product. They  will not  bring their own whisky, which they understandably call InchDairnie, to the market until 2029. They have named the recipe for the blenders Strathenry and MEUG, the most fun Flemish taste agency, has been able to get hold of a cask. And who is Carter, you ask? Carter’s Whisky is a delightful pun on ‘kaarterswhisky’, which is Flemish for ‘card players’ whisky’, referring to the utter drinkability of this malt.

https://youtu.be/wCQXzmxdrsI

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at the new releases from Waterford in Ireland.

https://youtu.be/PAh5XMod5aE

https://youtu.be/4QA8jElAR78

Words like ‘integrity’ and ‘pure’ are being thrown around alot these days when it comes to single malts, less so when it comes to blended whiskies. Compass Box have done alot in this landscape, but Black Bull have been nailing this down for years, without fancy marketing and very good, eye-catching labels.

A blended whisky of 50% malt, 50% grain, 50% ABV, and buckets of sherry to bring through a very rich, balanced and overall excellent product in the whisky world. A brand that also has an insane amount of history that accompanies the ‘integrity’ check list that comes with it. I bought this for less than £40 a bottle, outside of Glenallachie, who does this? Nobody.

This is something that you all have to seek out and assess for yourselves. A truly excellent example of great whisky – blend, single malt or other. Excellent.

ralfy review 943 Extras – Developing sensation awareness.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at Israel’s first distillery, the Milk & Honey distillery based in Tel Aviv.

https://youtu.be/_MJtHYQJM8o

ralfy review 943 – Edradour 10yo @ 40%vol:

https://youtu.be/qj1NgYtQq9Q

I’ve never had a falling out with rye whisky, I’ve always enjoyed it, but it’s something I tend to forget about in the world of American whiskies.

Willet is a distillery that I also haven’t paid that much attention to, much to my discredit. Having gone through several ownership changes and historical speed bumps, the distillery has been producing its own bourbon and rye whiskies for a few years now.

This 4YO release blew my mind away the first time I tried it. It had all the hallmarks of a well made rye spirit with heavenly helpings of butterscotch and fresh mint alongside each other.

Is it pricey? Yes, for a young, cask strength spirit, it does have a price tag of just under £100 a bottle. But it isn’t that different in price to younger Scottish, Irish and definitely English whiskies. And it’s on the shelf, I can physically buy it without needing to chase auction houses and retailer. This is a quality spirit from a very exciting distillery.