Light, yet evocative malt driven nose, with a touch of peat. Lovely entry on the palate, with a fruity, sweet and crisp character. Quite smooth and round on the tongue. As the journey progresses, more shy notes of sandalwood, whole wheat toast, pastry crust and mild pepper arrive. A semi-long finish, ending on a dry, piquant note. Overall, this is an excellent beginning to a new annual series for Nikka.