Whiskey Review: Kikori

I am not going to lie.  I bought this bottle and pushed it into the back of my liquor cabinet and completely forgot about it.  All I remember is that the bottle looked cool and it was Japanese so it might be worth reviewing.  It might be months ago now, but here it is:

Reading the label is says this is distilled from rice and pure mountain water in Kumamoto, Japan, and apparently aged in barrels for three years.  Rice?  I believe that makes this a sake (whiskey).  This will be a first as far as I know.  Their website indicates that barrels used are: American Oak, French Limousin oak and Sherry casks.  Ok.  That is a good start.  The color is very light, which is expected given that it is distilled from rice. The back label also includes a little story about Visu, an ancient woodsman, who wanders the forest seeking harmony that eluded his life.  I wonder if the Japanese words on the inside of the label are of this story.  Anyways, on to the show.  Even the smell is more reminiscent of sake than of your standard whiskies, but you can definitely detect the oak barrel flavors.  The first taste of it is interesting, it starts of like a dry woodsy sake, but as you wait the spicy and smokey barrel flavors creep up.  There is a slight burn as it goes down, but the finish is sake'ish and sweet.  It also leaves behind a nice warming sensation.  

I am a bit flabbergasted, it both is and is not a whiskey.  Definitely out of the ordinary.  All I can say is:

The numbers:  I vaguely remember picking this up at Costco for less than $40.  However I can neither confirm or deny that statement.   A quick check on the web has it going for $46 at Bevmo. 

It reminds me of...ummmm sake?

The verdict: I am pretty torn about this one.  On the one hand, the uniqueness makes it worth a try, but its non-whiskeyness makes it difficult for me to fully endorse it.  It might be one of those gifts you give to the total whiskey snob in your life just to mess with them.  On the other hand if you are a big fan of both sake and whiskey, buy this, you can get both cravings out of the way at the same time. 


Please comment below!  If you think there is something I must try or something you want me to review, toss it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

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Professional tasting notes:

axisofwhisky.com
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