Hanyu 1985 Ichiro's Malt Ace of Spades

3 Apr

Hanyu 1985 Ichiro's Malt Ace of Spades, 55,7 %

I recently had the opportunity to try a very rare Japanese whisky. At the restaurant Akkurat in Stockholm I came across Hanyu 1985 Ichiro's Malt Ace of Spades. This whisky was distilled in 1985, and bottled back in 2006. It was matured in a hogshead (cask #9308), and was finished for 15 months in a Spanish oak sherry butt.

There were two bottlings of this expression, where the first was limited to 122 bottles, and had an ABV of 55 %. Actually the front label on the bottle I tried also says 55 %, but on the back it says 55,7 % (see image below).

For more details and facts on the playing card series see the impressive website by Ulf Buxrud.

Nose (23/25): Caramel, oranges, apples, oak, ripe fruit, exotic spices, simple syrup and a hint of mint. Seems slightly oily or creamy as well. Lovely!

Taste (22/25): Mild caramel, exotic spices, pepper corn, chili, nuts, licorice, and some camphor. It is quite sweet.

Finish (22/25): Long and warming. Oranges, orange marmalade, camphor, dark chocolate, sherry and fudge. Slight acidity towards the end.

Balance (23/25): A fantastic whisky! Too bad Hanyu was closed down years ago. Getting your hands on a bottle of Hanyu is becoming increasingly difficult, and expensive.

Score (90/100)