Tastes

Exceptionally well blended, the nose is sweet, slightly smokey and with a toffee coloration. The taste is akin to a spiced gingercake with a touch of caramel and butter. A long finish that leads to a dry and woody ending. What can we say? These Single Batch releases are always well crafted, highy drinkable and instant collector’s items. If you have the cash, do yourself a favor and buy a bottle for those extra special occasions.

The nose is even more fruit forward than the Yoichi expression. Think stone fruit, almond, strawberry, and mincemeat pie. The peat here is used to balance the effect and give the overall spirit a darker penumbra. The flavor follows through with these characteristics, adding a peppery, woody and peaty fruit compote finish. This whisky is less subtle than the Yoichi, but nearly as elegant. The addition to the blend of heavier peated whisky adds a more toothsome approach.

A soft and meek nose, with elements of banana, apple, and melon topped with a patina of burnt peat smoke. The opening tasting reveals sweetness of demerara sugar, fresh pear, and fennel gently touched with black pepper. The finish ends on a floral note with some sake-like yeastiness. In summary, a light, delicate and not too smoke forward whiskey that is quite delicate. An interesting and entirely characteristic blend for NIKKA.

The nose presents charred oak, raisin, plum and dried cherry, as well as a touch of black tea and cinnamon. The palate revs up the oak with dark burnt wood and a hint of smoke. A lot of tannins tend to dominate, but in spite of this, there is a nutty and fruity sweetness akin to praline, cinnamon apple tart and dried bing cherry. The finish is medium-long with lasting notes of old leather, pinewood and a hint of maple sugar. Overall, this is a well balanced, chewy and evocative 17 year old, that will be especially pleasing to those who appreciate the woodcraft of barrel blending.

Sweet cinnamon on the nose, with a touch of vanilla and fresh baked bread. The palate continues the light and easy sweetness, with an overlay of honeyed oak, toffee and bittersweet cacao. Some peppery heat on the short finish, but overall, a solid, smooth sipper that is ideal for cocktails. A friendly bourbon that will keep you coming back

Initial impressions include soft apple notes, warm vanilla bean, mild oak, creamy butter, and bittersweet cocoa. A wonderfully rounded and smooth whiskey, there is a genuine cohesiveness here that feels quite lively and upbeat. The finish is medium long, with a few touches of baking spice at the tail end. A lot of the character comes from the minerality of the water used, adding terroir that simply cannot be replicated elsewhere. A master at his finest, Tanaka has gifted the world with what may well be the epitome of Japanese whsikey craft.

A lively whiskey with a bright entry, that reminds us of winter holiday cookies and mince pies. The spice is remarkable, as it goes on towards a very long finish. The body is fairly viscous with a lot of peppery, ginger-like high notes. A very tasty rye that is a perfect sibling to Still Austin’s straight bourbon. A terrific spirit in cocktails, this one can also be enjoyed neat or with a splash of branch water.

The rye definitely comes through with flying colors. The additional oak aging somewhat softens the spice, and adds a drier and more wood forward tonality. Butterscotch, light vanilla, caramel and dark rye toast flavors all play well together, melding into a solid whiskey. The finish is quite long, with a lot of wood coming out on the palate at the end. A definite sipping whiskey, it opens up into a softer version with some lighter baking spice notes when enjoyed with a large cube of ice. We look forward to trying Dixon’s upcoming releases.

Initial sweetness, soon followed by warming, prickly rye greets the tongue. A mid-palate fullness with a drier entry of oak, as opposed to caramel, vanilla and baking spices. A lot of depth here regardless. The finish is extremely long and ends on a maple sugar note. 

There is indeed a sense of sea salt here, along with a light touch of bracing pine. Quite interesting, and not distracting in the least. Rather, it adds an air of reflection and curiousity. More high notes than low as it plays out on the palate. A slow sipper with perky rye and a long peppery finish. We can see this working exceptionally well in a Sazerac.