MARS 2015 Komagatake The Chronicles

Nose : fine, generous. Especially fragrant (vanilla, coconut, verbena), profoundly malty (pulp, baking powder) and delicately peaty, the initial nose lays the foundations of an extremely rich palette of aromas. The smoke gradually intensifies as strong spices and chilli appear. Allowed to breathe, a feeling of serenity and wonderful fullness reigns.

Palate : clean, resolute. With the same eloquence as the nose, the attack is luscious, lemony, vanilla, peaty, ashy and saline. On the mid-palate, the malted barley acts as a liaison with the second highlight of the tasting, which gives the floor to ripe fruits (apple, pear), cut hay and new aromatic herbs (aniseed, mint, rosemary). With incredible freshness, the end of the palate is characterised by notes of liquorice stick and chlorophyll.

Overall : long, sweet. For a long time the finish maintains and restores the menthol character of the end of the palate, before developing into a more milky register (almond, fromage blanc ice cream). The retronasal olfaction invites us to savour vanilla pods, exotic fruits (kiwi, lychee) and a peat perfumed with the aromas of a lit Havana. The empty glass wavers between water lily, courgette flower and gooseberry.