YOICHI 2019 Limited Edition

A blend of Yoichis distilled in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s matured in new American oak and ex-sherry casks, this bottling wonderfully embodies the rigorous yet extroverted style of this unique single malt. With a very pure expression and unheard of richness, it invites us to explore the many paths that traverse a palette of flavours and aromas in which every note arrives at just the right moment. Very inspiring, it tirelessly extends the boundaries of the tasting to evermore faraway horizons.

The distinguished initial nose reveals an ethereal and lemony smoke. It then becomes medicinal (mustard), candied (lemon), vanilla and rancio (strawberry). Allowed to breathe, soot and ash appear harmoniously alongside acacia honey, juicy pears and salted butter caramel. The lively attack literally pours blocks of peat onto the palate. Tinged with exoticism (banana) and marine registers (seaweed), it evokes a tumultuous seaside. The very well-balanced start to the finish is original (juniper, coriander, lime). The perfect definition of the Yoichi style, it alternates between peat/malt, smoke, richness (spice bread) and musk.

TASTING NOTE

Appearance : topaz with copper tinges.

Nose : refined, distinguished. On the initial nose, a lemony, ethereal peat literally escapes from the glass. Mustard seed, candied lemon, bourbon vanilla and a lovely red-fruit rancio (strawberry, raspberry) brings lots of elegance to the aromatic palette. Yoichi’s firm yet unctuous style radiates beauty. Allowed to breathe, notes of soot, coal and ash appear in perfect harmony alongside acacia honey, juicy fruits (pear, apple) and salted butter caramel. Iris butter and tuberose aromas add an increasingly heady dimension.

Palate : clean, full of energy. Intimately linked to the aromatic palette, the attack pours blocks of half-dry, half-wet peat onto the palate. Resolutely saline and herbaceous (samphire, seaweed), it is at the same time deliciously chocolatey and exotic (banana). The very stately mid-palate gains height and invites us to admire a coastal landscape where powerful waves crash against the rocks. This very suggestive sequence of flavours continues into notes of sea spray, black pepper and marmalade. Magnificent.