Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

A tribute to Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky and founder of Nikka, this pure malt whisky is a blend of casks from Nikka’s two distilleries in the north of Japan: Yoichi and Miyagikyo. 

To achieve this level of balance and complexity, Nikka’s master blenders rely on a large variety of whisky styles, combining the fresh and fruity notes of youthful whiskies with the rich, evolved character of older ones, aged primarily in ex-sherry casks.

Nose: Engaging. Fresh and fruity. Freshly pressed fruit juice comes to mind, a cornucopia of white fruit, peach notes and juicy grapes. It progressively opens up on fine amandine pastry notes, frangipane and biscuits. Italian all the way, like a panettone with raisins. The malted barley grows more present and plays off of the citrus aromas (clementine). A touch of oak and rustic notes (verbena, camomille) bring it all together.

Palate: Coffee, liquorice, toasted oak, coffee grounds, a cigar slowly burning out! Its surprising range is expressive, to say the least, bordering on excessive. Vigorous, assertive and uncompromising. The peat is elusive and finds ways to assert itself without so much as a whisper.

Finish: Liquorice candy all the way. A refined bitterness quickly gives way to more integrated, medicinal aromas: camphor and eucalyptus. The finish eventually fades out on malted barley notes.