Review #150 - Kaiyo Cask Strength
This 'cask strength' bottling from Kaiyo comes in at an even 53%, which feels a bit low for what is possibly a relatively young whisky, considering the lack of age statement. Like all Kaiyo whiskies, this is a blend (in this case, a teaspooned malt), with no definitive information about the source of the distillate, and like many Japanese whiskies, it comes with a relatively hefty price tag - $120 now, at least in our area.
One good thing it has going for it (other than the higher strength) - this is not chill filtered, which is stated proudly on the front label. Like the other whiskies in the Kaiyo range, this is also aged in Mizunara oak casks, spending some time at sea in that process.
Kaiyo Cask Strength
Japan - Blend
Current Locally Available Price: USD 120 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 53% ABV
Cask Makeup: Mizunara oak
Details: Not chill filtered
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 8 months; bottles at 80%, 60%, and 40% (blind tasting) fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Strong and sweet, with oak and peppercorns up front. It's slightly earthy and grainy, too, with hints of salt and sweet barbecue sauce and vanilla sugar. There's a bit of pure ethanol on the nose as well, before orange fruit and brown sugar becomes stronger.
Palate: Medium-thick mouthfeel, with quite a bit of oak and brown sugar, along with more baking spices: cardamom, cinnamon, and cloying clove. Caramel apples and vanilla bean ice cream bring more sweetness, and there are subtle flavors of hay and salt. Overall, quite sweet.
Finish: Medium-long finish - warming cinnamon and orange, along with lots of sweet ice cream and baking spices, like light brown sugar. Light nuttiness and salt again on the back end, and the aftertaste is cooking spices.
Final Note: This is alright, but a bit simple and too subtle for us, and maybe a bit too overly sweet. Not a bad whisky by any means, but we were hoping for more punchy flavor with the 'cask strength' designation. The biggest issue of all is the price - like a lot of Japanese whiskies these days, this is quite expensive for what you get. With the pricing in our area, as well as the plethora of cask strength alternatives that are cheaper and offer bolder flavors, we're not likely to pick up a bottle.
Our Average Rating: 5.8 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 4.76
