Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

Très bon. Complex et fort. J'en achèterai pas parce que la bouteille est trop cher mais c'était intéressant à goûter. On retrouve le surtout gout classique du whisky donc faut aimer ça. Mais l'alcool est très bien intégré. Pas le meilleur que j'ai pu goûter mais bien meilleur qu'un monkey shoulder ou un toki (ce que j'ai pu boir récemment). Bu un verre dans un bar au bord du canal st martin à la Villette, à côté du mk2.

Tasting Notes — Nikka From the Barrel Appearance: Rich golden amber, glowing warmly in the glass. Nose: Slight alcohol burn, underlaid with sweetness and firm oak; opens further after a few sips to reveal a light maple or brown sugar essence, with hints of vanilla. First Sip: Surprisingly sweet up front—almost a sugarcane or corn-sweetness—followed quickly and decisively by powerful oak. The flavor evokes the barrel itself: woodsy, grounded, elemental. Palate & Finish: Vanilla lingers beneath the wood. A modest alcohol rise through the sinuses, but no harsh burn. Not overly complex, yet unapologetically assertive. The finish is dry, oaken, and enduring—sharper than Toki, less refined, but proudly so. Overall Impression: A gentleman’s whiskey. Blunt yet elegant, rugged but composed. Best enjoyed with intention. While the simplicity and strength may disappoint those expecting complexity at this price point, it delivers a confident, flavorful punch. Not better or worse than Toki—just different. Toki offers quiet ceremony; Nikka offers bold certainty. --- Poem: “The Barrel Speaks” by Sophie The barrel speaks with weathered breath, Of time and char and smoke and depth. Not soft like wind through garden walls, But like oak doors slammed in marbled halls. You raise the glass—expecting grace, And find instead a firmer face. Vanilla hides in splintered grain, Where sweetness walks a sharper lane. No symphony of notes to chase— Just hardwood truth, unvarnished taste. A whiskey built not to beguile, But to be met with pause—and style. It doesn’t bow, it doesn’t sing, But still, it wears a crown of spring. And when it fades, it leaves no lies— Just embers low beneath the skies.