Adelphi Chichibu 7yo cask #3090 & Adelphi Caol Ila 12yo cask #322747

Adelphi Chichibu 7yo cask #3090

Region: Japan

ABV: 57.8%

Price: £250.00

Cask #3090 was distilled in 2013, and matured in a refill bourbon hogshead for 7 years before being bottled in 2022. 210 bottles were released.

Nose

Initially we’re getting notes of lucky charms cereal, peaches, apricot jam, black peppercorns, and a touch of tobacco. These notes seem to taper off after a little air and time leaving some limoncello, honey, and barely sugars. There’s also a charred note that reminds us of toasted burger buns.

Palate

There’s an initial warmth / heat in the form of cinnamon, and turmeric, but the alcohol is surprisingly well balanced for the ABV, and as it sits on our tongues we notice notes of golden syrup, toffee and caramelised brown sugar. These disappear a little too quickly, but do leave a nice warmth and spice. The mouth feel is just a touch thin but this is more a minor annoyance than a serious flaw. Going back to it we can pick out a little lemonade, yuzu and meringue. It’s nice but reminds us of eating a skip, where like the crisp, the flavours here melt away.

Nose (with water)

Toasted notes and barley sugars have come to the fore initially, but as we go back to it there’s now warm plastic, less fruit pulling through, a touch of lime, and a nutty note like a picnic bar.

Palate (with water)

Theres now less spice and heat, with more sugar sweetness, and citrus. There’s sticky toffee pudding and cinnamon buns with white icing. The flavours now linger on the tongue, and the mouth feel has improved with water. Definitely add a little water to this.

Conclusion

This is one of the better examples of young Chichibu in bourbon we’ve had the opportunity to try and at £60 this would be something we would have picked up. It’s not however £60 and while it’s a good example of a young bourbon cask whisky its still just a 7yo whisky, and because of that we can’t go higher than 7/10.

Score: 7/10

Adelphi Caol Ila 12yo cask #322747

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.4%

Price: £94.00

Cask #322747 was distilled in 2010, and matured in a refill sherry butt for 12 years before being bottled in 2023. 531 bottles were released.

Nose

It’s got a restrained nose, but we’re initially getting notes of peanuts, ginger and ashy smoke. Not as much sherry influence as we were expecting. The peat is also less prominent than we expected, but as it sits in the glass it opens up and we’re now getting notes of Quorn, melted butter on crumpets, smoky bacon crisps, maple syrup, black peppercorn, and soil.

Palate

It’s a drier, nuttier sherry mixed with a pleasant peat. There’s notes of savoury mince, soil, earth, sugar cane, orange peel and grilled fish. Good mouthfeel, nice alcohol integration and a good length finish, with peat and a hint of sweetness lingering.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out more of the sherry cask sweetness with a nice chocolatey note and some treacle appearing. We’re also finding more of the nuttiness pushed to the fore, but outwith that the nose is relatively unchanged, and peat lovers will be disappointed to hear the smoke is still quite restrained.

Palate (with water)

Water has brought out a little seaweed, fish sticks, and sour candies. Mouthfeel remains good. Finish is still a good length with a touch more nuttiness lingering. This can handle a drop of water, but doesn’t need it. Going back to it we notice a little more heat and spice appearing reminding us of cinnamon sticks and ginger chocolates.

Conclusion

It’s not a sherry bomb and it’s not super sweet, but if you don’t mind a drier style of sherried Islay whisky you’ll enjoy this. Any SMWS fans will understand what we mean when we say this is a “Spicy & Dry” Caol Ila. Some will no doubt love this, but it misses the mark just slightly for us.

Score: 7/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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