Thursday, September 11, 2014

Kirin (Seagram) Crescent Blended Whisky 43% abv


Nose: Clean, summery, and effervescent. Quite a pleasant fruity little number - tinned fruit salad (pineapple, peach, pear). Hot cross buns and mashed banana. Sticky caramel pudding or is it bread and butter pudding? Dried strawberries and corn puree. Then, sesame and poppy seed vita wheat crackers with a drizzle of Kuromitsu (a Japanese black honey like sugar syrup). On the last leg a mellow woody oil fragrant aroma. Wood varnish and toasted grain.

Taste: Semi-spiced fried strawberries, thinly sliced mild pickled ginger, and pan fried pineapple. Vita wheat crackers. Not a lot really happening on the palate, especially regarding the fruit experienced on the nose - a hint of sweet mustard, minerals, and pink grapefruit. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable and certainly nothing to write-off. With a bit of time some other interesting elements surface - tree sap, and rum like qualities. 

Finish: Medium, but at times it kind of comes to an abrupt end. However, there is the presence of the Kuromitsu followed by a nutty presence with a mild woody influence. Rum?

Comment: Apparently there was up to forty different whiskies used to create this blend - all coming from Kirin-Seagram's portfolio at the time. The partnership also produced a similar blend named Ten Distilleries however, as the name suggest only malt and grain whiskies from ten distilleries was married together. The Crescent 'Whisky Supreme' was released on the domestic market in 1981 (source).

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