Nikka Whisky From The Barrel was first launched in 1985 and has been stealing hearts ever since. Built from a marriage of malt and grain whiskies, largely drawn from Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries, it is bottled at a forthright 51.4% ABV because anything less would miss the point. The compact, rectangular bottle reflects its concept, "a small block of whisky", but this rich, oily expression has always punched above its size.
This product does not meet all the criteria of "Japanese whisky" defined by the Japan Spirits & Liqueur Makers Association. You can read more on our blog.
Medium-body with good balance. There are notes of cut flowers and fresh fruits, spice, and a little oak.
Full-bodied and punchy. There is plenty of winter spice and toffee, a little caramel and vanilla, and a good mouthful of fruit.
Long, warming and fruity with a little oaken spice.
While this whisky isn't cheap, it makes up for it with a wonderful deep flavour. Very little burn too, given the ABV. Fantastic stuff.
This time I bought two bottles :)
This is my first venture into japanese juice so I did not know what to expect. As a matter of fact, I wasn't even after japanese. I was after an Aberlour A'Bunadh 60 caliber but my go-to danish/german bordershop was out (same shop where I got the Balvenie 16y peated cask. Yum yum). It's a 51.4 caliber blend as most might already know. From the bottle into the GlenCairne: Quite a bit alcohol in the nose, which is no surprice due the the number printet at the bottle. So it has to rest for while. Then nice stuff rise from the glass. I get cinnamon and plums and orange. Christmas is in my nose. As the initial alcohol wears off, a pleasant sweetness adds to the nose. My first thought was candyfloss so now I get that every time. Smoke is completely absent. Sipping it, the surprise does start: I'd expect quite a tickling on the lips and tongue from the high percentage, but it's gentle and caressing and doesn't burn at all. It's fruit on the palate along with a more peppery spiciness. A very fullbodied taste that completely fills my mouth and intensivates when exhaling through the sniffing device. Finish: Very sweet yet warming but quite short (I know that some says it's long but not I). Which is fine, because then you just pour once again and start from the beginning. Only downside: It's just 50 cl. so you'll be out of ammo in no time. Thank God, they make so much of the that they are selling it !
As all Japanese whiskies, this is just great and I just love the bottle.
I must admit is a really good whisky and good value for money,and I was never disappointed with it yet. to Poor man's Aberlour a'Bunadh. You can't compare it to a'Bunadh..because it's a totally different stuff! It's like to compering a dick to a door handle.
