Special Weekend Tasting Hakata Japanese Whisky

 

Special Weekend Tasting
Hakata Japanese Whisky
At the (In)famous Bar
Inside the Clayton Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd.
Friday, March 1st 3:30pm-6:30pm
Saturday, March 2nd Noon-6:00 pm

Hakata Whisky is distilled and matured in Fukuoka, Japan by the Hikari Distillery (which was founded in 1912). The mash of the whisky is 100% barley. A fraction of this barley has been fermented with Koji providing healthy enzymes for fermentation and creating the highly sought after and delicious, savory taste known as Umami.

The Sherry casks this whisky is aged in are kept in traditional style warehouses as well as a few open-air warehouses where they are exposed to humid summertime temperatures of 95 °F and winter temperatures of around 38 °F. As a result, the whisky is bold and almost classical in flavor; retaining a freshness that is truly unique. 

Hakata 10 Year Japanese Single Malt Sherry Cask 42% abv

nitially, there are dark sherry notes of plum, black cherry, and soy sauce, with a lift of gentle spices, then it evolves, adding caramel- ized roasted garlic, lemongrass, ginger, and concentrated notes of aged balsamic vinegar. A burst of browned butter on the palate, followed by nutty flavors, with ripe plum, damson, a dash of balsamic, clove, pepper, melted chocolate, and a mouth-filling finish of powdery cocoa.

93 Points, Whiskey Advocate

Hakata 12 Year Japanese Single Malt Sherry Cask 42% abv

Fleeting vegetal aromas of bok choy, with ground ginger, coffee bean, and marron glacé. The umami is strong on this one, but there’s balance on the nose from black forest gateau notes and a hint of oak astringency. Raisin and black cherry flavors draw on a deep pool of umami notes, with soy sauce, shredded ginger, balsamic vinegar, plain chocolate, and a growing presence of oak tannins.

95 Points, Whiskey Advocate

Hakata 16 Year Japanese Single Malt Sherry Cask 42% abv

A spectacular drink that opens with aromas of Seville orange marmalade, milk chocolate, ground pepper, barley, and soft rounded oak, with an underlying dryness from the sherry. The umami notes are there, but are more integrated than other Hakata. An oily texture bursting with bitter plain chocolate, citrus oil, fresh walnut, black cherry, pepper, and ground ginger, develops an underlying creaminess and serves up a hazelnut finish.

96 Points, Whiskey Advocate

Hakata 18 Year Japanese Single Malt Sherry Cask 42% abv

An intensity of aromas with chocolate brownie, black currant cassis, wood spices, dark soy sauce, and worn leather; some lemongrass and spring onion freshness, the umami and oak notes reach equilibrium. Dark sticky sherry notes on the palate, with raisin, leather, dried fig, prune, and dark chocolate, spinning away with an umami phase before the sherry notes become dry and mouth- drawing. The finish is long, with leather and walnut oil.

94 Points, Whiskey Advocate