Yushan Signature Bourbon Cask Single Malt Taiwanese Whisky (700ml)

'Yushan' will be a new name to many whisky lovers. Situated in Nantou Hsien in Eastern Taiwan, it's produced by Nantou Distillery which actually pre-dates the country's current darling, Kavalan, having been founded by the Taiwan Tobacco & Liquor Corporation way back in 1978. The State-owned manufacturer actually operates seven distilleries, but only Nantou makes whisky. The brand's obscurity is partly due to the fact that whisky production only commenced there in 2008. Initially the mash was sourced from a nearby brewery. In 2010, Nantou installed its own 15,000 litre capacity German mash tun and wash backs. Currently four stills operate, manufactured by Forsyths of Rothes in Speyside, and the owners are looking to expand further. An on-site racked warehouse capable of storing 4,500 casks is complemented by a fresh underground water supply. The distillery also produce a selection of lychee and plum wines, and some of the barrels are used to finish their malt, sold under the brand name 'Omar' since 2013.

Named after Taiwan's highest mountain, the Yushan label is actually a sub-brand, primarily intended for the European market. At the time of writing, it includes one blended malt and three singles - Sherry, Bourbon and Smoky. These make up the current shipment. While there aren't many professional tasting notes to date, bloggers and customer reviews are positive about the entire collection. See below for one.

Other reviews... Vanilla and oak have a floral quality on the nose. Just as pretty on the palate, there is a gentle spice that entangles with deeply rich toasted oak and sweet cereal grains. Plenty of acidity keeps everything lively and balanced. 92 points - Excellent, Highly Recommended - Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2021

...Oh, boy! This nose is quite appealing. Much better than the Omar I tried last year. Sweet malt, vanilla, butter, white fruit and coconut wrapped in white chocolate. Fresh. What a pleasant surprise. Where last year’s Omar was almost watery, this is very creamy. Fresh and fruit, mildly spicy. Again white fruit, but now with more coconut and touches of lime. Or yuzu. Lots of honey. Spice-wise it is all on the soft side, but I do detect some white pepper and ginger. Hint of nutmeg. The finish is medium long, sweet at the death and simply pleasant. What an improvement! This is a lovely spring whisky from Taiwan. - whiskybase.com