The award-winning Nikka Whisky From The Barrel blend is absolutely full of flavour. Bottled at 51.4% ABV. The blend combines both single malt and grain whisky, the majority of which comes from from the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries. A huge depth of flavour in this stunning whisky from Japan. We can't recommend this enough.
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.
Still get this at certain supermarkets in Sapporo for ¥2000!!! It's such great value. I hear American consumers will have it available there soon. So might want to stock up as this could drive up prices elsewhere.
Not long ago, I bought two bottles of this for about 4500 yen total (around $21 each). I still have one and I'm hanging on to it. They're over 3000 yen if you can even manage to find them now. There's really something unique about the way they marry aged malt and grain whiskies and then further age the mixture in wood. It sets this whisky apart. The closest thing I've found to compare this to is the Cutty Sark Prohibition. But it's not really in the same class. If you see these anywhere, I'd suggest grabbing them (or telling me where they are).
Excellent Whiskey
I enjoyed my bottle of Nikka, found it a little harsh neat, but just a drop of water opened it up nicely and made it thoroughly drinkable.
It tastes like Scotch but there's something different about it. After drinking it I realized it's a blend, for the grain element is married flawlessly into it. Full bodied and pleasant, 51.4% but you wouldn't tell that from the nose or undiluted taste. Add a bit of water and it will release some aromas that weren't there before. I admit, I approached this one with skepticism, "yeah Japanese, what do they know" and I was thought a lesson: Japanese can turn anything into art. This one is really special, even if it's sold in 500ml bottles.
