N: vanilla, toffee, ripe peaches and pears. Banana! Soft sweetness trending towards a liqueur type nose. P: Sweetness brilliantly balanced by an upfront oak note with cereal-malt, vanilla, and a brown sugar caramel. Fresh juicy melon. Ever so slightly sticky and oily. F: medium. Silky and decadent, slightly sweet vanilla and warm pepper. Everything lasts in equal measure with no real dominant note. Not that it needs it, but a splash of water brings some toffee to the surface whilst pulling a softer melon sweetness through everything. Personally though I think it makes things a little flatter and removes some of the vibrancy. Take the biscuity, shortbread flavours of Irish pot still whisky and mix it with the mouth filling vanilla sweetness of bourbon and sticky flavours of dark rum and you might have something approaching this. Everything is nicely balanced with sufficient heft from the fresh vibrant flavours to cut through the sticky sweetness. This is a light, fresh and playful liquid that seems to be a consistent delivery of quality. This juice definitely wakens me to the possibility of grain being more than just a bland background for blends. Well done Nikka, well done. Distiller whisky taste #57