Nikka Taketsuru 12 Year Old

Please bare with me as this is my first review so hopefully I do this whisky justice.

To be honest, I was a bit reserved before purchasing this bottle as the price point ($69.99 in Ontario) isn't particularly expensive but not cheap either. After trying the Nikka Yoichi 10 year old earlier this year, I was left very unimpressed and worried this would be a let down as well.

Boy was I ever wrong. While I by no means have tried a great number of whiskies compared to many other more experienced individuals, this has to be one of my favorites under $100.

Nose: A very delightful aroma instantly hits you. While not overpowering, the smell of apple cider, caramel and peaches blend well and give you a subtle glimpse of what's to come. I detected a hint of a sake-esque/steamed rice smell for some reason.

Taste: Fantastic and well balanced. On first taste, the apple, peaches, honey and licorice come to the forefront in delectable harmony, followed by the oak in the background. While none of the flavors jump out, they instead balance well with eachother to produce a nice smooth and subtle taste.

Finish: Not particularly long, yet somewhat fitting for this whisky.

Conclusion: I very much enjoyed it and would recommend others to give it a try. While those who prefer a smokey whisky might not enjoy it as much, those who prefer their's on the smoother side will very much enjoy it.

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