If I've ever talked about hype before, this is certainly taking it to the next level. I don't buy the craze myself after what I've read, but a bottle of Yama 18 is obviously a collector's item rather than a whisky to drink these days. Still, I'll admit, I'm very excited to have a nice sample before me.
1.6 (Mahogany)
Nose
At first whiff - a deep woodiness that's a bit fruity rather than spicy. Sherried notes for sure. A little fragrant. After the first impression - more fruit. Exotic fruits and a sweet, almost a rum-like aroma. Gingerbread. Great nose, and the hype comes back even for a skeptic like myself.
Palate
Soft, medium oiliness. Sweet, fruity and some wood. Pineapple, citrus. On the dry side.
Finish
Thinner than the nose, sadly. A light finish where I've come to expect a fuller and deeper sensation. Nice vanilla tones and a small redemption where some warmth manages to make a small last effort before it ends.
Absolutely love the nose. It has that deep, sweet woody thing going on which is right up my alley. Palate - very nice. Enjoyable. None of the stuff that made me kind of diss the 12-year old. Comes up a little short on the finish, but it's still an enormously pleasant whisky. Pretty much in line with what I expected. Great taste, not even close to being worth its current market price.
Score
83 / 100
0-50 Subpar
51-60 Drinkable
61-70 Decent
71-80 Good
81-90 Great
91-100 Fantastic
Image used with permission from www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com
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