Review #351 - Ohishi Sherry Single Cask Whisky
Not a typical whisky - Ohishi distillery makes this one from both malted and unmalted rice, as they're familiar with rice fermentation and distillation due to their Shochu production. A portion of the rice is actually grown in their fields around the distillery, while a large amount is brought in from external sources. Because of their production methods and the grain of choice, this is not technically considered 'Japanese whisky,' though it is all made and matured in the country.
The Ohishi distillery specializes in the use of sherry and brandy casks for their whisky aging; in this case, we have a bottle from an ex-sherry single cask, though it's difficult to find much more detail than that. Based on the tasting experience, we're guessing it was a first fill cask, though; we get a bottling strength of 43.4% ABV for this release.
Ohishi Sherry Single Cask Whisky
Japan - Grain
Current Locally Available Price: USD 59 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 43.4% ABV
Cask Makeup: Matured in a sherry cask
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 3 months; bottles at 90% and 70% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Very unusual - light and effervescent at times, but also packed with red fruit notes: grapes, prunes, blackberry, and raspberry. Some musty orange notes arrive, and there's a hint of sulfur; with time, pomegranate fruit develops as well, and the sulfur gets stronger.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium-thin; there's a lot of sherry influence, with strong grape and some sulfur, as well as a mulled wine note. Vanilla adds a little more sweetness, and the oak influence is mild... there's a crisp, clean character to the spirit underneath the sherry, as well as some strange grain flavors.
Finish: Nice and soft now, with mild purple and red fruit - grapes, berries, glazed strawberries, and orange citrus, too; some tart grapefruit arrives in the aftertaste.
Final Note: While we wouldn't necessarily pick this out as a rice whisky, it was clear from the beginning that something related to the grains was different here - the grainy notes were unusual. While the nose was musty, there was a clean, clear, soft character to the palate and finish, hidden below the sherry influence. That sherry influence was indeed quite strong - a plethora of red and purple fruits, especially in the nose, though it mellowed out in the finish.
Value-wise, this is decent - nothing exceptional, but above average, especially since it's so unique.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 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: 6.51
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
