Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

PRICE: Not retail available in the U.S. At online sites, $40-60, but the bottles are 500mL. Expect to pay a secondary market premium if you can even find it in the U.S. INFO: No-age statement blended Japanese whiskey, with malt from Yoichi and Miyagikyo, and grain from [?]. The blend is re-casked in bourbon barrels for additional maturation. Bottled at 51.4%. It’s “from the barrel” (as all whisk(e)y is), and it’s high proof, but this is not cask/barrel strength. NOSE: 94/100. The richest toffee, at first. Then, dark fruits with pepper. Let it sit, and it evolves into poached pears and a soft malt, but accentuated by peppery notes. Jam packed with character and dynamic complexity. I’m loving this. PALATE: 92/100. Toffee and caramel on the arrival. Spicy, rich, sweet. Curry candy? Wrong country. Quick, think of something Japanese. Pickled plum candy. There we go. This is a brilliant blend. Coconut milk and cinnamon from the grain, and a full range of dark and dried fruits from the single malt components. FINISH: 85/100. Big punchy hit of spices to finish things off. Nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla. Medium length. A wee bit hot. Suffers a bit from being generic and less refined compared to the memorable nose and palate. OVERALL: I would like a little bit more transparency, but it’s not so important when the liquid is delicious. I wish this was available in the U.S. This is so good I would try to make it myself. Alas, Yoichi is expensive here, and Miyagikyo is even more so. Nikka Coffey Grain is affordable, but this is much better. MARK: 92/100 VALUE FOR MONEY: I had this at a D.C. restaurant out of the giant 3L bottle with a 40mL pipette. They charged $30 for 40mL versus you getting a whole 500mL bottle for $50 in Europe. Still worth it, as they say.

Nose: caramel, walnuts, strong baking spices(nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, maybe some cardamom). Sugared orange peel. Dark chocolate. Slight saltiness. Palate: On arrival its warm with a hit of spices, strong citrus zest, raisins, dried apricots, reminds me of fruit loaf cooked with a nice crust. Lovely! W/1tsp water: Adds stewed fruit notes, spicyness reduced and dark chocolate, fruityness increased. Just right! Finish: Medium. Pleasant burn, mouth drying, tannic. Smooth. Leaves fruity and woody. It's a cracker