On the nose, slight hints of nuts, vinegar, ash, wood, and maple syrup. This tastes like a country breakfast, the maple syrup transfers to the palate and I get some smoked meat and cereal notes. Not what I was expecting from a Japanese whisky. On some sips I even get chocolate-covered bacon. There's spice on the backend, which lingers even after the warmth going down subsides. I like the Coffey Grain better, but this is another good offering by Nikka. 4/14/17