Last week I rambled on at length about Nikka’s past and present, so it feels only fair to actually taste a few of the things the distillery has to offer. I had a rummage through my sample stash and found three bottlings I’ve been given by various whisky mates.
NIKKA – The Tailored, 43%
Nose:
An absolute burst of pear to begin with, followed by white flowers (plum blossom, perhaps) and those blue-and-pink fizzy bottle sweets. After a little while I find fountain pen ink — that smell you get when you’ve scribbled loads on paper — blackcurrant jelly and a touch of black pepper.
Palate:
Baked apples, custard and a hint of cocoa, easing into gentle oak. Clove appears after a moment, then black chai tea. Toasted almonds turn into French nougat and meet creamy toffee before circling back to fruit again — Galia melon and orange.
Verdict:
The nose is lovely and inviting. Very polished and “clean”, with plenty of fruit — both fresh and slightly synthetic in that charming way. The palate mirrors the balance and it’s undeniably tasty. If I’m being picky, I’m not sure I’d need a full bottle at home, simply because it doesn’t feel wildly exciting as an experience. I’d also happily take a longer finish, especially given it tends to hover around the £80–£90 mark where you can find it.
NIKKA – Single Cask Coffey Malt Whisky (06.03.2003–11.07.2014), Cask 245347, Warehouse No.4, 53%
Nose:
Very closed at first. What little I get initially is almost entirely citrus-driven — sweet lemon (think lemon mousse) and a bit of grapefruit. Floral without tipping into perfume, but I do have to warm the glass in my hands to coax it out. Then comes fresh mint and sweet vanilla.
Palate:
Oh. My. Word. The creaminess! Vanilla-heavy soft serve ice cream with tutti frutti sprinkles, followed by a really long yet almost gossamer finish of meringue and grated lemon zest. Proper summer-in-a-glass stuff. Towards the end there’s a drying, malty sweetness on the tongue, and the whole thing feels like Key lime pie in whisky form. There’s also a small herbal kick — a hint of those Ricola sweets.
Verdict:
Delicate yet complex, sweetly comforting and faintly rebellious-herbal all at once. I’ve no idea where you’d find a bottle these days, but if you’ve managed it — congratulations, honestly.
NIKKA – From The Barrel, 51.4%
Nose:
Lots of malt, and quite a sweet one at that — it leans towards granola for me — followed by tinned pears and a bit of leather. Apricot halves meet sweet fruit yoghurt and sugared lime. Some sort of wine gums… colour undetermined.
Palate:
Plenty of butterscotch (or perhaps more caramel sauce), lots of nuts and — actually — a tiny, tiny puff of smoke! I also find a note of what I can only describe as “apple cellar”, like when we’ve stored apples from the garden in the cool pantry. Honey lingers through the medium-length finish, and by the third sip a few raisins quietly make an appearance.
Verdict:
Balanced but with a bit of swagger, full of flavour without turning rowdy. Ridiculously easy to recommend at around the £45–£50 mark — it’s more than worth it.
