|
Most Americans were completely unaware of the Japanese yen for whisky until they saw Bill Murray sheepishly hawk it in Lost in Translation. In the film, he was flogging a brand called Suntory -- "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time." -- the Jack Daniel's of Japan. Now that company is bringing some of its best stuff, 18-year-old Yamazaki, to U.S shores for the first time.
Big, peaty and smoky this ain't. The 18-year-old Yamazaki has a light, gentle, sweet flavor with a medium amber color and very little burn. Most noticeable is a honey flavor, followed by notes of prune, toffee, marmalade, mandarin orange, strawberry, sherry and butter. The supple smoothness is no fluke: Japan has always taken its beverages seriously, whether it's sake, tea, beer or whisky. The country has a terroir not unlike Scotland's -- both have long coastlines and mountainous interiors (water and climate can make or break a booze). What's more, Suntory has been developing whisky -- spelled the Scottish way, without the "e" -- since the 1920s. If the $100 price tag makes you want to reach for a Kirin instead, try their 12-year-old version, which is a little easier to swallow at $40 a bottle.
-- James Oliver Cury
|
