I bought this bottle of Nikka From The Barrel while I was browsing in a store in Calgary a few years ago. Japanese whiskies are in my top spots so I was intrigued to try this adorably packaged bottle. Truthfully, when I first tried this whisky I was put off by the harshness. Tonight, I decided to give it another go. Featuring a malty, coffee nose, sips have an initial high alcohol content burn that wane into a slightly peated, rich, oily and salty finish. Notes of vanilla and spices mingle throughout for a nuanced complexity that many Japanese whiskies deliver. For the punch it provides, the finish keeps you going back for more. Mellows out significantly with water or on rocks. On my second go, I find that I enjoy this the more I sip. 7.5/10