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Nikka from the Barrel

Unblendy blend

0 680

@WhiskyNotesReview by @WhiskyNotes

5th Jul 2011

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  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    80

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Nikka From the Barrel is a blend of grain whisky from Miyagikyo and malt whisky from Yoichi. Three more Japanese whiskies to go in this little series.

Nikka ‘From the barrel’ (51,4%, OB 2010, 50cl)

Nose: fruity and floral, with apricot, banana and pineapple aromas, oranges and some fresh oak. Honey. Almonds. Cinnamon sticks and vanilla, a little pepper as well. A balanced sherry nose. Mouth: creamy with plenty of punch at the same time. The grains are maybe a little too sharp around the edges, but the rest is very tasty. Malt and nougat. Caramelized sugar. Fresh lemon. Fruit tea. Drier towards the end, with spices like nutmeg. Even a hint of peat? Finish: quite long, malty and spicy with a lightly bitter edge.

This is a well-made, intense whisky that’s not easy to recognize as a blend. Great value for money.

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6 comments

@galg
galg commented

I quite liked this one... i have a bottle and it is an amazing BFB whisky. i'd rate it at 85. it's great. and not expensive. deserves extra points ;) slainte!

12 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills commented

Thx for the nice reviews guys.

But I am a bit confused @galg. You gave it 95 points and seemed to be really stunned by this dram.

I was going to order the Nikka All Malt as Japanese entry. Then I saw this one and checked the reviews here. Seems to be the better choice. Was anyone able to compare them? I heard the All Malt has some tobacco, ash and smoke on the nose which this one don't offer.

Next question is concerning the production process: The All Malt is a column/patent/coffey still whisky. How is the Nikka from the Barrel produced?

11 years ago 0

@galg
galg commented

@Willis : 95? i think i gave it 85. as for how it is made, i have no idea, as it's a blended whisky, so made from a few types of malt, and grain. it's bottled at CS, and this is very nice. i'd go with this one (it's small) so u can also get the other and compare.

G

11 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills commented

@galg: connosr.com/reviews/nikka/…

95 points and seems you quite liked it :)

I am going to order it now. Seems to be great value for money.

producing process: @WhiskyNotes already wrote it. This one is a blend of grain+malt. The All Malt is just grain whisky. Confusing name then :D

From the official homepage:

Matured malt whisky and grain whisky are blended and then re-casked (a process known as "marriage") to create a rich harmony of distinctly different whiskies. "From the Barrel" is bottled directly from re-casked barrels of whisky and features almost the same alcohol percentage. At 51.4% alcohol content, this whisky possesses a distinctive personality characterized by solidity, depth of taste and a richly expanding aroma.

11 years ago 0

@galg
galg commented

According to TWE the all malt is indeed malt! not grain :

A fascinating whisky made with Yoichi, Miyagikyou and some 'grain' whisky that isn't really grain - it's malt whisky made in a Coffey still at Miyagikyo! So this is really a vatted malt, or 'blended malt whisky' as we're supposed to call it these days

11 years ago 0

@Wills
Wills commented

Thx @galg, you are right. I am getting confused here, need to have a dram ;)

But I guess it is true, that the patent-still process doesn't allow as many flavors to get distilled as in pot stills e.g.

Therefore the All-Malt is more flat/less complex I assume. Btw I don't know how the malt-fraction in From-the-Barrel is distilled. Maybe also with column-still process?

11 years ago 0

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