Suntory Yamazaki Puncheon

This Yamazaki Puncheon is almost legendary. Especially if you can believe the price evolution of this NAS whisky. When it was launched in 2013, the bottle cost around 125 EUR. Today you need to fork over 1,500 EUR! A puncheon is larger than an ordinary hogshead, because it’s a cask of about 480 liters. In it, this Japanese single malt was matured and then bottled in 2013 at 48%. I consider myself lucky that I got a sample of this, because unfortunately I can no longer afford a bottle. Fresh and lively, I have to say. The nose is bursting with white fruit with pears in the lead, followed by some peach and banana. Juicy pineapple. All typical notes for a bourbon barrel, but at the same time all very light. This is a real spring whisky. The mouthfeel is good. Very lively. It dances on the tongue on vanilla, peach and pears. Now also a touch of orange. Make that bergamot. A little floral. Potpourri? Coconut and mirabelles join in. All very fresh, though. Very pleasant, but it has to be said: not exactly earth-shattering. Just very tasty and completely flawless and a textbook example of maturation on a bourbon barrel. The finish is medium length, on licorice and ginger. Don't get me wrong: this is very tasty. But the price was actually already on the high side at the time; today, that's ridiculous for what you get. And the title: that's just Puncheon in Japanese.

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