Nikka distilleries

Region: Japan

Location: Nikka have two distilleries in Japan; Yoichi in Hokkaido and Mayagikyo in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Northern Honshu. Nikka also owns Ben Nevis distillery in Scotland.

Status: Operational

Nikka White

"Pure Malt" which I guess means vatted or now Blended malt".

Typical cost of this bottle; Unknown (to me)

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Rich gold with hints of brass

Nose: Aromatic floral malt and popcorn, then butterscotch and candy floss followed by freshly polished wood, perhaps even cherry wood.

Palate: Creamy mouth-feel with fresh raspberries and a vanilla sauce. Hints of butterscotch, biscuit, mango and peach.

Finish: Long and fruity

Overall Impression: I really like the mixture of malt, butterscotch and fruit.

Nikka Black

"Pure Malt" which I guess means vatted or now Blended malt".

Typical cost of this bottle; Unknown (to me)

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Light amber

Nose: Initially lots of aged oak followed by leather and wax polish.

Palate: Primarily wood and nuts with a hint of lavendar. This also has a gentle tingle on the palate and something reminiscent of coconut milk.

Finish: Long with that slightly nutty coconut milk.

Overall Impression: Long and lingering, slightly nutty and a suggestion of coconut, but not much more.

Photo coming soon

The Blend of Nikka 17

Typical cost of this bottle; Unknown (to me)

Glass: Classic Malt

Colour: Amber

Nose: Aromatic and perfumed wood, also old wax wood polish alongside lots of rather sweet flora.

Palate: Smooth and creamy mouth-feel and really quite floral. Initially I thought "sweet vanilla sauce" but on second thoughts this has quite a lot of "jam roly-poly and custard". On my second tasting it is even more intense with more of the wood and wood polish from the nose. This is then followed by much more fruit with peach and banana.

Finish: Long with wood and fruit.

Overall Impression: A very enjoyable whisky,  but although it's good, the palate just doesn't quite live up to some of the promises of the nose. If it did, it would be a 'great'.