Nikka Taketsuru 12 Year Old

Notes of fruit, caramel, and smoke

22nd November 2017

Everyone I have let try has always said, "Wow, that is smoooth."

This is my idea of a perfect Japanese whisky. I taste cinnamon and creamy vanilla with a touch of smoke.

Such a delight to drink. I also recently tried the Nikka Taketsuru 17, which is again, on a level above the 12. If you can find the Nikka Taketsuru 12, but it, you won't be disappointed.

2nd August 2016

I was amazed. I had not touched scotch since my late teens when I loathed it. When I was given the Nikka as a gift in a monogrammed flask at age 65, I blind tasted it. "What is that?!" I murmured in amazement. "Scotch!" was the whispered reply."Scotch!?" I exclaimed. "What kind?" I queried. "Nikka. Japanese." Holy cow! What have I been missing? Of course, Nikka is not scotch as I was about to learn as I began my quest into the world of single malt whisky but I have not looked back... What a joy. I tasted a leathery, smoky quality that I now really love. I found it in Highland Park 12 as well. Then I read how the Japanese took the top prize in the Jim Murray tasting a couple of years ago with the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013. I no longer felt disloyal to my Scottish ancestry for liking something that was not actually scotch. I'm due for another bottle now and, Oh! It's my birthday next week! Guess what you can give me for my BD darling wife... I'll put it right next to the Balvenie 12 Single Barrel and the Glenkinchie 12...

13th June 2016

Mnogo dobar whisky, iscepao sam flasu sam, ne boli glava, do jaja je verujte mi..

9th September 2015

This is as good as any Scotch I've had at this price point. It is delicate and light, but has layers and layers of complexity, including a long and subtle finish. Of the Scotches I drink, this is more like Glenmorangie than the smokier malts. But it is distinct, and very definitely has its own personality, and quite a pleasing one! We have five in stock locally, and for a change, it's priced lower in Canada than in the US. I will add at least one more bottle to my collection.

10th May 2015

My second bottle of Japanese whisky; my understanding is that the distillery from which this specific blend of cask are chosen is located in Hokkaido, the largest of the northern Japanese islands. Because of its latitude, Hokkaido shares a similar climate to Scotland, which the founder of Nikka distilleries believed was essential to producing superior whiskeys. Suntory brands, like the excellent Hibiki, are distilled on Honshu, which is the largest and most central of the Japanese Islands.

The Nikka 12 Pure Malt blend is much fruiter than Hibiki 12, and has a sweeter, more round noise, with notes of vanilla and a caramelized sugars. The flavor is sweet and full, with notes of fruit and sherry, and a strong flavor of vanilla and marshmallows with delicate balance of peat which reminds me of the umami flavors in strong fermented soy sauces. However, both being Japanese whiskeys, there are many flavor notes that are similar between the two; refreshing grassy notes and milk tea, with a surprising harmony between all the flavors.

I would highly recommend this bottle as one of the growing number of excellent Japanese whiskeys.

22nd April 2015

I thought my favorite top five whiskeys were set in stone. But this has completely shaken up the list. The subtle peet taste, it's mild demeanor, and light sweetness reminiscent of a fine bourbon come together in a novel way. Furthermore it costs much less than many of my other favorites whiskeys

5th March 2015

You guys couldn't have hit the nail more on the head than this fine whisky. Your tasting notes are spot on. This blend is simply amazing and deserves to be acknowledged. In my top 3 blended whisky's.

27th February 2015

There's a unpleasant smell in it that make me cringe and the taste has a flat bitterness that reminds me of cheap stuff like 'Label 5'. Will go back to 'Majesty'. Wonderful bottlecap though.

7th November 2014

Очень хороший виски, думаю в купаж входит Ben Nevis, принадлежащий Nikka, и очень любим мною, но вкус не такой выразительный - более сглаженный, но осень солодовый и мягкий.

8th October 2014