Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

On the nose: sandalwood, berries, honey, vanilla. The palate is rich, incredibly complex, and almost creamy with apricot, a touch of milk chocolate, and spices that almost nod to rye but are reminiscent of scotch. Orange is strong and rich, and in the finish there’s almost a savory umami flavor that evolves into rich ripe fruits. The finish is balanced, with many new notes evolving over time. An excellent blend.

Nose: This smells so damn good. Vanilla, floral, oak, cherry, green apple...so much to discover. Honey. Orange. Palate: tasting a ton of new oak and spice on the initial taste, woody, wisps of smoke. lots of sweet fruity flavors mixed with honey as well. Ends on a briny, salty flavor. Might be the end of the wood notes. Mouthfeel: This feels so damn full, oily and spicy. Long lasting. I feel this sucker all the way down in my stomach. Must be the 51.4%. Worth the money and more. Not many whiskies capture my attention like this, but I enjoy this one a ton.

The nose doesn't have a ton going on. There's some smoke and a bit of grain, but nothing that stands out too much. The palate has plenty of smoke, but also some fruit and a substantial amount of malt. This is very rich for a Japanese whiskey, though it remains subtle. It reminds me of Johnnie Walker Green. I love the richness, though I wish that some other flavors stood out more. I'd say it's a bit better than Yame Eight Goddess, though not tremendously so. There's a bit of sweetness, but really this is a rich whiskey. It balances some spice and a bit of umami too. It's dry good, though it lacks that punch that I often like to see. At $75, this is a solid buy, especially at 51.4%.

Lightly Smokey