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.
Superb ...big character. I get a lot of sherry in the first taste. Beautifully smooth and the big alcohol hit is dangerously well hidden. I love it
When i first drunk this bottle in 2014 it was an incredible experience, really good and now in 2019 i was offered a new bottle and i got to tell that i was devastated...i had high hopes of remembering those flavours but no...i don't know what happened...high demand/cut time but in the nose it burns you, in your tongue you feel a big burn and it punches you in your stomach...
Great. Nose: strong alcohol on the nose first, then on the go back lightens and come the floral , raisin & toffee, finish with a white pepper tingle. Palate, surprisingly less alcoholy than the nose suggested, toffee, caramel and dark fruit, peppery lingering finish. Like it the dram, like the "look" of the bottle but don't like the bottle neck or screw cap at all! The neck is so short (no neck) it's impossible to pour a wee dram without a dribble..aghh. And a Screw cap no less! Are we going the way of no cork screw cap wine? Heaven forbid! A whisky of this quality and price (Equiv. of CAD $99/750 ml in BC Canada) should have a cork and good pouring physics, come on, eh?
love this whisky.... gets a bad rap off snobs who don't like anything other than Scottish whisky and won't admit that's the reason they don't like it. Give them a drink and don't tell them its Japanese and the reviews will be different
I don't understand some of the reviews here. I can only assume those that dislike this Nikka have little experience or maybe just don't a peat flavour. I was introduced to this by an employee at St Georges Distillery. I had wanted to try a Japanese Scotch for a while and this put any pre-conceptions I may have had firmly to bed. Its a fantastic drinking scotch. It was not until sometime later I discovered it was a blend. I'm a pretty hardened single malt addict and prefer peaty and smokey whisky's. Nikka is the only blend I have so far come across that keeps me smiling. Mind you at nearly 52% that does not take long....
