Review #157 The Nikka 12 yr: Japanese

Score: 9.1 / 10

Distillery: Nikka Distillery

Type: Japanese

Nikka Whisky, one of the most prominent whisky distilleries in the country. It is known for its commitment to quality and craftsmanship. Most Japanese whiskies are blends consisting of occasionally around 100 separate whiskies!

The malt whiskies used in Nikka 12 are distilled in pot stills, which are known for producing a rich and flavorful spirit. The grain whiskies are distilled in continuous column stills, which allow for a lighter and smoother character. The 12 year particularly has experienced limited availability in recent years due to increased global demand for Japanese whisky. This has made it a sought-after bottle among whisky enthusiasts.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Rich green apple hookah intermingles oak spiced vanilla and toffee. There's leathery scents here, mochi, and a fresh ocean breeze. Deeper in the glass I find pear, banana, and coconut shavings, all accompanied by robust Mizunara and sweet smoke. Revisiting the nose I find a potent grassiness (fresh mown lawn) the likes of which I haven't smelled since Yellowspot 12.

Palate: The mouthfeel is rich and buttery, it turns oily and coats the palate. There is a very sweet and enjoyable sugary note before pear and red apple bloom repeatedly while a beautiful spice simmers on the backend. On a second sip exotic fruits steal the show as the mouthfeel becomes more effervescent bringing forth kiwi, coconut, and dragon fruit. Further into the drinking experience I find juicy green apple and all flavors listed above are partnered with a rich pipe tobacco that's sweet and sits behind upfront fruity notes. This pour perfectly balances fruit, spice, and tobacco throughout.

Finish: Lightly tannic and simultaneously juicy. Oak sits front and center lingering and persisting. More pear and buttered popcorn hide in the background as a peppered spice recedes. Red apple rind rounds out the finish.

Score: 9.1

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Rare - Sometimes at Duty free or around on shelves or scarcely scattered in throughout Europe. Though I've never seen it on a case or shelves outside of the land of the rising sun. (That's Japan...).