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Nikka from the Barrel

Complex development of the nose

0 785

@AlexswedenReview by @Alexsweden

5th Jan 2015

0

  • Nose
    22
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    20
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    85

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

A very cool, unusual design of the bottle and packaging sprinkled full with japanese symbols I have yet to interpret. The Nikka from the barrel is good. Impressive when taken into consideration that it's a blended whisky.

Nose Big marzipan, chocolate, a hint of banana, sweet spice, a subtle air of fresh mint, some sherry dryness, buttery, wood, leather, White pepper, cloves, vanilla. The nose is where the complexity is in this whisky. Given time to breathe it changes ongoing revealing new aromas every couple of minutes. My advice is to give it plenty of time in the glass.

Palate Sweet arrival with red berries, a very slight whiff of smoke, mint, dried figs and apricots. It is quite round and balanced in taste, even when taken neat it stays very measured. almost a bit restrained.

Finish Rather short. Red berries, citrus zest, figs vanilla, ginger, quite peppery if taken neat. It still feels very controlled not taking of in any direction but staying firmly on course. The nuances are there but you would rather have to look for them. Elegant but not bold and exciting.

One thing i Notices is that it can't handle too much water so be gentle when adding your drops.

All in all a nice dram and definitely one of my first choices among the blended whiskies I've tried.

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7 comments

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Yes I'd say it was. I have been tasting it over about two weeks. Bottle has been opened about that long, say 10-12 Days.

9 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

Now roughly two months after our first encounter, I have to say that the nikka has improved. The bottle is nearing empty so it its plentyfully exposed to air and it certainly had developed more character. The nose has additions of sultana, a hint of smoke and rumraisins and also the palate has improved mainly by adding sweet rumraisin and some more depth of flavour. I'm changing the marks from to 85.

9 years ago 0

@Phil73805
Phil73805 commented

I just bought this on Friday and tried it with my brother today. I was very disappointed by it out of the bottle. It smells and tastes like every bourbon I've ever had, no complexity at all even with time and water.

9 years ago 0

@Alexsweden
Alexsweden commented

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully it will develop with time. On the upside, it's not very expensive so it doesn't leave a big dent in the wallet

9 years ago 0

@Phil73805
Phil73805 commented

True enough but it does put me off Japanese whisky...

9 years ago 0

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