Bushmills 1989 Official Japanese Single Cask #7438

A stunning sherry character that made me ponder how such a whisky could exist. Bushmills 1989-2003 OB for Japanese Connoisseurs #7438 52.6% SHERRY HOGSHEAD The aroma features a rich, old-world sherry with notes of Shaoxing wine, prunes, dried fruits, mitarashi, mirin, bouquet garni, richness, meatiness, dried shiitake mushrooms. The palate is smooth and dense with viscosity, a thick sweet jam-like character, depth of flavor, a savory-sweet mitarashi sauce-like richness, good tannins, meaty intensity, and a long, rich finish. 【Very Good, Interesting】 This is a single cask bottling released by Bushmills for the Japanese market in 2003, from a sherry hogshead distilled in 1989. While it's rare to find an official Japanese single cask Irish whisky at cask strength, I initially thought nothing of it given its standard specifications. However, from the first sip, I was shocked. The intense sherry character with a Shaoxing wine-like quality evokes the richness of early 1970s sherry casks, despite being distilled in 1989 and bottled around 2003 (about 10 years old). It carries a distinct vintage character, including some 'hine' (twist) elements. The meaty richness and diverse aromas were impressive. The sherry character is full-bodied with a smooth, dense texture, balancing thick jam-like sweetness with appropriate tannins. The rich, savory-sweet mitarashi sauce-like flavor doesn't feel cloying. The meaty richness is equally present in both aroma and flavor, creating a powerful impression. This is undoubtedly an exceptionally rich, savory sherry-style malt from this vintage, with a unique character I've never experienced before in sherry casks of this era. It's possible that the barrel, which might have been from the early 1970s, still retained significant influence from its original spirit. I suspect the environment where this barrel was stored contributed to its unexpected 'hine' (twist) and vintage character. Despite my excitement and analysis, the truth remains elusive, but there's no doubt this is a rare, richly flavorful sherry-style malt. This Irish whisky hasn't been widely discussed. I recently tried to find a bottle but couldn't locate any, which made me hesitate to post about it on my blog. It was such an impactful Bushmills experience that I'm still in awe. If anyone finds one, please let me know. (笑) #Irish (IRISH)