I’m finally easing into the Japanese whisky craze so I decided to try some of the newer, NAS blends. First up is the Taketsuru Pure Malt from Nikka. This NAS whisky replaces the age statement 12 year old, as the Japanese are suffering from the same fate as scotch whisky producers- low inventory. This blend uses malt from 2 distilleries: Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Both are basically 10 year old stock, with the Miyagikyo being the primary malt used here. I’m not sure of the exact percentages. This one comes in at 43% ABV and is a rich, caramel color that doesn’t really make any legs in the tasting glass. Oily. The nose is heavily spiced with traces of new, shoe leather and alcohol astringency. The charred oak could easily be mistaken for smoke here, IMO, even though it’s pretty muted. The palate is pretty uneventful: lots of smooth, sherry sweetness that turns towards heavy pepper and oak barrel shavings by mid sip. The finish is somewhat long, while remaining sweet and reminiscent of malted breakfast syrup. I don’t really get anything that screams Japanese whisky, but then again I’m pretty new to this style. I even added a few drops of water to see if something materialized, but all it did was mute everything else even further, so that’s not recommended. Overall, this one’s mediocre and nothing new or ultimately interesting. It’s still a highly drinkable malt and it’s also on the cheaper side with prices around $55 for a 750ml bottle. I also purchased the 17 year old version of this particular malt and I really hope there’s a lot more to that one. This one is a solid 3, nothing more. Here’s to expanding one’s horizons. Cheers, my friends.