Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 21 Year

Color: Amber N: floral, light apple, P: smooth, peated F: smooth, peated , nutty

NOSE: Gentle and delicate, but deep. There’s fresh moss, mint maybe, with a rich creamy vanilla bean underneath. With a side of creme brûlée. PALATE: It’s a fresh fruit bomb. Peach. Pear. Lime. Surprised to find it so fresh after 21 years! Sweet but there’s some dry leaves or cigar in there too. Dries into a sweet finish where that old oak gives you some mint chocolate flavors. OVERALL: Just a pleasure from nose to finish. Zero burn or sharp notes. It’s really a carefully perfected flavor journey. Would love to spend more time with this, maybe bump the score even further up.

Getting back to this one, as it was what got me started on fine Japanese whisky. Nose of plum and green wood smoke. Rich, oily mouthfeel arrives even before the flavor. Apple and cantaloupe melon flavor, with a crisp and dry finish. Some pepper heat.