Nikka Taketsuru 21 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distilleries : Yoichi, Miyagikyo - Japan

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Blended Malt

Launched in 2001

Slightly Peated 

 

 

 

It is important to know about Masataka Taketsuru's life if you are even remotely interested in whisky. How this eager and hard-working young man went into business, how he left for Scotland just after the First World War, the Scottish woman he married who died prematurely, leaving him forever bereaved and throwing himself into his work. The two distilleries he founded, Yoichi and Miyagikyo, are the ones used for this Blended Malt created in his honour. He died in 1979, so the first Taketsuru 21 yo, launched in March 2001, was probably distilled during his lifetime. It is considered one of the best blends in the world, having been crowned the world's best whisky in its category four times at the World Whisky Awards. There is also the Taketsuru 25 Year Old, the 17 Year Old and the non-age-statement, but it is the 21 Year Old that is most easily remembered by the public and which fuels the legend. These three aged Taketsuru whiskies were discontinued in March 2020.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Pastry cream and peanut butter, apples cooked with a pinch of cinnamon, dried fruit, raisins, prunes, apricots, candied lemon, grapefruit zest, melting caramel, toffee and dark chocolate, a few coffee beans. In the background, a hint of coarse salt, mineral notes, limestone, gypsum, light and captivating peat, soot, dry earth. On the palate, sour oranges, salty notes and green liquorice, ginger, elegant but slightly insistent wood. Discreet spices, nutmeg, black pepper. Fairly long finish, chocolatey, with a trace of charcoal, walnuts and hazelnuts, a mint leaf.

 

In Short, 

The nose is the most interesting aspect, but it lacks a little depth and balance. The palate and finish are good but not particularly original. Another one of those overrated Japanese products that have reached ridiculous prices. Sure, it's good, but it's not that balanced, and there are some minor flaws. It is indeed much better than the vast majority of blends, but it is not as good as a good single malt. Perhaps, in the end, it would have been better not to taste it, dreaming of a great blend is always better than experiencing this disappointment.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Band-Maid - Thrill

Nikka Super Rare Old

 

 

 

43°

Distilleries Officially Unknown - Japan

Ex-Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Blended Whisky 

Launched in 1962

Almost Unpeated

Masataka Taketsuru launched Nikka Super as a tribute to his late Scottish wife. From the outset, it was a huge success. But over the years, the recipe changed considerably. In 1962, Nikka had just one distillery, Yoichi. Miyagikyo was created in 1969, and the distillery's products certainly became major ingredients in Super Rare Old. In 1989, the Ben Nevis distillery became the property of the Nikka group, and its distillate was definitely included in the recipe. Finally, in 1999, Miyagikyo received the Coffey stills that had previously been at Nishinomiya. Nikka Super therefore received malt whisky and grain whisky from Miyagikyo. And Nishinomiya's share would be gradually reduced, until 2024, as the distillery closed in March this year. So the three main distilleries currently used to make Nikka Super are Miyagikyo, Ben Nevis and Yoichi, whereas only the last was used in 1962. The recipe, and therefore the taste of the product, have changed so much that a limited edition was even released in 2015, which is supposed to respect the original recipe of Super Rare Old, mainly made from Yoichi, of which I speak here. 

Let's Taste It : 

Honey and citrus fruits, lime and pineapple, ripe yellow plums, liquid caramel, melted butter and starch. Wood glue. Floral touches. Pumpkin and butternut. It's a little light on the palate, but very well done, with a good balance between fruit, honey and cereals. A few biscuits and peppery spices. Beeswax. The finish is a little short and collapses fairly quickly, but there's honey and notes of lemon, prickly pear and dwarf banana. Cola and sandalwood. A hint of chocolate.

 

In Short, 

For a blended whisky, it's really very good. You can recognise the influence of Ben Nevis, which brings its notes of honey and citrus fruit. The finish is a little disappointing though. It's a shame, the price has gone up a bit in recent years, but up until then, this was a very good, inexpensive, easy-drinking blended.

Score : 83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Courteeners - The Beginning of the End

Nikka Days

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Miyagikyo, Yoichi - Japan

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Blended Whisky

Launched in 2018

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

Launched to replace other expressions from the same brand, notably Blended, this whisky is particularly well-suited to cocktails.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Lemony nose, grain and cereals, cashew nuts and peanuts, all well-balanced of course, but very light too. White grapes, plums, a floral touch, daisies and chrysanthemums. On the palate and finish it's very gentle, vanilla, citrus, lemon and grapefruit, almond, a trace of peat, but you have to look hard enough. Sandy earth, sunshine, pineapple, a few grains of salt, this is a summer whisky. Pine thorns. It's so light that it barely feels like alcohol.

 

In Short, 

Maybe it works in a cocktail, but pure, it's pointless, though flawless. The price is fairly low, but it's still too expensive for what it is.

Score : 79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Nancy Sinatra - These Boots are Made for Walking

Nikka Coffey Grain

 

 

 

45°

Distillery : Miyagikyo - Japan

Re-Filled, Remade and Re-Charred American Oak Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Grain 

Launched in 2012

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Coffey stills were created by Aenas Coffey in 1830. They are two-column stills that allow grain whisky to be distilled, preserving the flavours and creamy texture of the distillate. Masataka Taketsuru imported two of these stills to Japan in 1963 and 1966, and installed them in Miyagikyo. Since then, this distillery has been producing a grain whisky renowned all over the world. Coffey Grain has been developed to make this distillate accessible to everyone. Success is guaranteed.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

I immediately recognise the cereals typical of grain whisky: puffed rice, wheat germ, cornflakes, with a fruity hint of apple and vanilla, and also a chocolatey note, more like milk chocolate, with an ounce of coffee. Fresh mint, honey, dry earth, icing sugar. On the palate, it's quite bourbonny, with yeast, fresh cream, all vanilla-flavoured and honeyed, corn and hay. The finish is very pleasant, sparkling, with cola and mocha. Chestnut cream, ferns.

 

In Short,

It's a great success of its kind, and fans of grain whisky will be delighted. However, it doesn't offer the best value for money.

Score : 82

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Luiz Bonfà - Manha de Carnaval

Nikka Super Revival

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Yoichi, Miyagikyo - Japan

Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Blended Whisky

Bottled in 2015

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

In 1962, Masataka Taketsuru, the creator of Nikka, launched Nikka Super in tribute to his Scottish-born wife, who had died a year earlier. It was a runaway success. Nikka was subsequently bought by Asahi Breweries in 2001, and the Super recipe was modified. In 2015, the group's blenders found a copy of the original 1962 Super, and set about reproducing it identically. The result is this limited edition, slightly peatier and with more Yoichi malt than the Super available today. It quickly sold out.

Let's Taste It :

Lemon and wood, with a certain depth, slightly astringent, acid, blood orange, gooseberry, and some floral fragrances, tulips, hawthorn. Delicate smoke which adds structure. On the palate, grainy peat, a balance of wood and chocolate drink, hazelnuts, peanuts, chantilly, and still that slight acidity behind. The finish is quite strong and leaves a good impression, with red fruits, blueberry and blackcurrant. Moderately long. Earth and chocolate, heather, bushes.

 

In Short, 

In my opinion, it's not bad at all, it's easy to drink. Red fruits and chocolate with a slight hint of peat. The price is right, it's a shame it's sold out, you'd be tempted.

Score : 84

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Dirtmusic - Bi De Sen Söyle 

The Nikka 12 yo

 

 

 

43°

Distillery : Yoichi, Miyagikyo - Japan

Original Bottling

Core Range 

Blended Whisky

Launched in 2014

Almost Unpeated

 

 

 

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the group's foundation, Nikka released this prestigious Blended in 2014. It was quickly overwhelmed by its disproportionate success, the price per bottle doubled and, due to a lack of available stock, production was discontinued just 5 years later.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A very smoky nose, you'd think you were in front of a cosy fireplace. It's snowing outside, the flames are crackling. Apricot jam, damp wool, vegetal notes. Very deep. Ashes too. Cereals, corn, wheat, Agen prunes. Very warm on the palate, a bit oily, woody, smoky, braised bread, nuts, black grapes, ripe apricots. Spices in the background. The finish is long and very balanced, combining wood, lemon and smoke. Black earth, humus, fern, moss.

 

In Short, 

An excellent blend, incredibly nuanced and balanced. No wonder it was a victim of its own success. You can still find one, but at a high price, and you'd better hurry, because these are the last ones.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

    

                                                    Mazzy Star - Fade Into You

Nikka Blended

 

 

 

40°

Distillery : Yoichi, Miyagikyo - Japan

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Blended Whisky

Launched in 2012

Peated around 10 ppm

This Blended version from Nikka was a bit their bottom of the range, before it was replaced by Nikka Days in 2018. It's now hard to find, and more or less fallen into oblivion.

Let's Taste It : 

Almond and vanilla wrapped in a very light peat. Chocolate and cola, a pinch of earth. Hazelnut, brown sugar. It's quite malty, with a few cereals, like puffed rice, wheat and oats. Porridge. Quite light on the palate, however, with just a hint of white fruits. Grapes, plums and pears. Strong finish, slightly suave, barely sparkling. On dried apricot and quince. A pleasant whisky on the palate, though a little sweet. It goes down well on its own, unnoticed.

In Short, 

A pleasant blended that's as well-balanced as ever. It is, nevertheless, a bit expensive for what it is.

Score : 81

    

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Blur - Girls and Boys

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

51,4° (90° Proof)

Distillery : Miyagikyo, Yoichi - Japan 

1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Butts and Refill Hogsheads 

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Blended Whisky 

Launched in 1985 

Almost Unpeated

Made from a blend of 105 different casks, this Blended is the proof of Japanese know-how and their taste for balance. It is said to be 10 to 12 years old.

Let's Taste It :

Wood, cinnamon leaves, slightly bitter caramel, a hint of peat from the countryside, the cocoa you sprinkle on cakes. Very pleasant smoke, balanced, grainy, bewitching. On the palate, a zest of citrus fruits, probably blood orange, green tea, cereals and chocolate. Slightly peppery and spicy, with cola and charred earth on the finish, it fizzes a little on the throat. You don't feel the 51°, but it's still solid and not too young. Chicory in retro-olfaction.

 

In Short, 

A little gem, offered at a very modest price despite its high alcohol content and complexity. The marriage of flavours is perfect, it's a classic.

Score : 85

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :  

   

                                          Cat Power - Nude as The News