NIKKA WHISKY FTB NOSE: Very Wood-centric. Old Oak, Cedar, and Pine Sap. A note that is what I imagine a Rickhouse would smell like? Additional notes are Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, Florality, Sticky Maple Syrup, Cereal Grains, and Smoke. NEAT: The Bold Complex Wood Notes dominate at first, but there is a lot going on here. There's Goetze's Bullseye Caramel Creams, Chocolate, and Ginger. More going on here that a second pour will reveal. The Dry Sherry fruit influence kicks in Mid-Palate along with some Prickly Heat. There is Sweetened Black Coffee, a Wisp of Smoke and the Illusion of Peat on the the Long, Dry as Dust Finish.The Wood and Sherry Notes Coat and Layer the Palate. There is a jagged "Refined Roughness" here and Tannins that thankfully stay on the good side of woody. Very Complex. SPLASH: A little water mutes everything. The Nose gets a Savory Umami Quality. Am I getting hints of Bacon Grease? Made it softer and a little less jagged. VERDICT: Big, Bold Flavors. So complex. Blended to highlight the barrels as much as the whisky. I believe I could review this tomorrow and pull a completely different set of flavors and smells out of it. Not only is this the best Japanese Whisky I've had, it is firmly in the running as one of the best Whiskies period.