Nikka Whisky From the Barrel

This was the last of four samples I tasted last night so maybe my palette was tired, but I didn’t get the complexities that most of the reviews here describe. I picked up sandalwood on the nose and enjoyed the oily honeyed mouthfeel, but otherwise found it good rather than great. Will look to try this again as it should be my kind of thing.

What a rush of flavors right off the bat.  I have to believe there are a lot of fortified wine casks in this blend:  sherry, moscato, port, and plum wine all jump out of the glass.  The heavy, rich fruit flavors of raisins, apricots, and plums combine with a bloom of smoke and heat to form a first-rate nose. The flavors carry through from the nose, with luxurious fortified wines and their attendant fruit notes swirling around the tongue, which lights up with a spice cabinet.  It's the nose all over again, with less smoke and more spice.  There isn't much nuttiness or bitterness at all, so this falls squarely in the rich-fruity-spicy end of the spectrum. Nikka Whisky from the Barrel has a long, warm, lingering, and spicy finish.  My wife and I happened to pick it up about a year ago, on vacation, and were amazed by the quality. This is one of the best whiskies I've found for cigar-pairing, as the higher ABV and robust flavors hold up well even with a full-bodied cigar.