In the bottle: Amazingly fresh, slightly floral with some honeysuckle, there also a nice sweetness that settles in as Tsukihitoshizu opens up a bit which feels a bit nutty which adds a nice bit of balance and complexity. For such a high alcohol percentage, I thought this would come through a bit heavier; however, the alcohol is almost nonexistent.

On the rocks: At 36%, this is ridiculously smooth, with a slightly peppery, cinnamony initial splash that soon transitions into some really amazing sweet potato, semi-sweet caramel and cocoa notes. What comes next is a bit on the floral side, light lavender, honeysuckle and wildflowers all make an appearance which creates a nice range of flavors to enjoy as the ice melts. 

Straight: Now that is amazing, there is an almost herbal flavor that dominates on the palate and back of the throat, a bit like mint or menthol and pine, really unique. The alcohol makes its presence known and is a great carrier for some the the sweeter notes which remind me of toasted rice and some grainy cereal. Overall, really enjoyable neat in the glass and something to enjoy sip by sip.

水割り Diluted with water

4:1 ratio: This was just so perfect, I ended up passing on this.