Hanyu 2000 15 YO - The Final Vintage of .. (Ichiro's Malt)

Hanyu 2000 15 YO - The Final Vintage of .., 46,5 %

I recently had the opportunity to try the Hanyu 2000 15 YO - The Final Vintage of. This is a limited edition of 3710 bottles. It was distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2015.

The Hanyu 2000 15 YO - The Final Vintage of  can still be found online, and the price seem to range between USD 500 and 900 (yeah, expensive!). A few bottles might find their way to Norway, but I do not know when, or if they will be made available to the general public.

Nose: It walks softly, but carries a big complexity. Deep and warm vanilla notes mixed with a kiss of cinnamon. Powdered sugar sprinkled on top of malt drops, camphor candy and puff pastry. In the dusty backroom caramel swirls and baked apples are dancing intimately. Hints of ashes in the back as well. It tickles and entices.

Taste: Rich and oily mouthfeel. Thick and floral honey mixed with ginger, peppermint and white pepper. Almonds, marzipan and again a hint of puff pastry covered in powdered sugar. A slightly dirty notes comes and goes - dirty in a good way.

Finish: Medium to long finish. Continues as it started, but very soon the spices fade away. Soft oakiness is added. I am then left with an intimate sweetness that guides me all the way home. It is a soft landing that leaves me wanting to take off again immediately.

Comments: This is so wonderful. It is truly sad that this distillery is no more. I apologize for going overboard in this review, but this is a dram that has me waxing poetic.

Score (90/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas