Nikka Yoichi Single Malt

Due to a shortage of Japanese whisky, Nikka withdrew all age statement off the market. Hence Yoichi and Miyagikyo are now released as NAS bottlings. This bottle has been around for a while and is the predecessor to today’s bottlings that appear at 45% in 70cl bottles as of the end of 2015. The rather closed nose offers up some yellow fruit (banana, mirabelles and citrus), but also the typical forest scents I have come to associate with Yoichi. Think ferns, decomposing wood and blossoms. Then a good dollop of honey and a little bit of peat. It has some Turkish Delight, which comes a bit as a surprise. I don’t think I have discovered that in a Japanese whisky before. Pity, but the body really leaves a lot to be desired. This is watery, just shy of oily. It could do with a little more. On the palate it is all about honey and spices, but with a nice uppercut of sweet peat, delivering some smoke. Loads of vegetal notes like roots. Midpalate, the oak does turn it a tad bitter; That bitterness is continued in the rather short finish, making that the least interesting part of this dram. I fear my expectations for this Japanese single malt were too high, for I am left slightly disappointed.

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