Hokkaido

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Nikka From the Barrel Blended Japanese Whisky. Hokkaido, Japan. ABV: 51.40%. Tasted at The Royal, $13.

Colour: Brassy gold.

Nose: Sweet toasty aromas, like a piece of hot buttered toast smothered with honey. A hint of liquorice maybe?

Palate: Soft buttery entry, quickly gives way as the big spice & warmth fill the mouth. A touch of sweet, spicy vanilla develops.

Finish: The heat fills your mouth. And keeps coming. Eventually it slowly fades leaving some of those sweet vanilla notes on your tongue. A real slow burner.

Comments: I wouldn’t have picked this for a blend, it’s got lots more flavour complexity and warmth than most other blends I’ve tried. Cracking value for money, only $13 for the glass or around $70 to grab a bottle in a bottle shop.

I’m happy to say this is the pick of the blends I’ve tried so far this year, maybe because for me it has characteristics more akin to a single malt than a blend. Recommended.

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Nikka Pure Malt White Blended Japanese Whisky. Hokkaido, Japan. ABV: 43%. Tasted at home, $0 courtesy of my mate Damien. Offered as payment for staying at my place when over visiting from Sydney. Whisky is a much preferred currency for any transaction, certainly more useful than Bitcoins.

Colour: Deep oaky, orange colour.

Nose: Very peaty for a Japanese whisky, lots of smoked woody notes too.

Palate: Velvety. Also very oaky, it’s a bit like licking a cane reed (saxophone players will understand the taste here).

Finish: Medium length & heat.

Comments: It’s quite ok, but nothing too flash. Nikka also have the Pure Malt Red and Pure Malt Black in their blended malt range, each in a different style of whisky. Thankfully not a salute to Johnnie Walker Red and Black, but rather the Red apparently is more fruity and spicy, whereas the Black is mellow yet complex. I will have to try these others to judge for myself if I stumble across them, although on the strength of the Nikka Pure Malt White’s tasting I won’t be going too far out of my way to hunt down some Pure Malt Red or Black.