Yamazaki 1982 15 Year Old Official Sherry Wood

I was entranced by the distinct sherry character, different from the current expression. Yamazaki YAMAZAKI 1982-1997 15 Year Old Original Bottling Sherry Wood 45% The aroma is strong and good sherry, dried fruits, prunes, grape juice, katsuobushi dashi, woody notes with a resinous quality, faint peat, and from the smooth mouthfeel it expands into a rich texture with some viscosity. The flavor has intense sweetness and acidity of prunes and apricot jam, herbs, woody notes with a resinous quality again, well-balanced tannins that deepen the flavor, and a rich, long finish. 【Very Good】 The Yamazaki 1982 bottled in 1997, Sherry Wood. A 15-year-old, 45% ABV water-added type; I didn't even know such a bottle existed. It was opened as part of the 15th anniversary commemoration by Campbelltown Loch at Yurakucho. The aroma strongly conveyed good sherry character, with dried fruits and concentrated fruitiness, alongside a freshness reminiscent of grape juice. The woody notes lacked the raw woodiness of current expressions, instead having a resinous quality reminiscent of Mizunara. The dashi and peat were also faint, which was impressive. Upon tasting, it started with a smooth mouthfeel expanding into rich flavors, with a slightly viscous texture. As with the aroma, there was good sherry character, with concentrated jam-like fruitiness and a pleasant balance of sweetness and acidity. The woody notes with resinous quality, along with the accompanying tannins, created a good balance that deepened the flavor. Overall, it was a rich and delicious Yamazaki. Above all, the completely different sherry character from recent Suntory expressions left a lasting impression.