Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 12yo (40.0%): Beautiful fall Sunday in Cambridge... A little cool but sunny. Perfect day to stay at home, keep your windows open and chill with a book on your lap and a dram in your hand. The book choice is the magnificent travelogue "Queer and Alone" of Jim Strahs and the whisky to pair with is
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt... It is a blended malt from Nikka to honor Masataka Taketsuru, the father of
Japanese whisky and founder of Nikka Whisky Distilling Company. It is a 12 year old blend of malt whiskies sourced from both Yoichi and Miyagikyo Distilleries of Nikka. I love these plastic screw caps of Japanese whiskies by the way.
Color: Deep amber, clover honey.
Nose: First hit is a tropical fruit punch served in a half papaya with umbrellas, etc. Guava, diced pineapples and ripe mango slices. After letting it air a little we get cold brewed coffee, milk chocolate and subtle peat. With a few drops of water old glossy magazines, vintage vinyl covers and wet cardboard aromas add.
Palate: Very thin mouthfeel which lets you down a bit after that very exciting nose. Lightly salted caramel ice cream, oak and candle wax. Splash of water makes it even thinner but also add some spiciness: Nutmeg, powdered cloves and carrot cake frosting.
Finish: Medium long with toffee and Christmas cake spices.
Overall: Well, it doesn't get more Japanese than this... It is not one of the boldest examples of the Japanese whisky around but a very good one for people who wants to enter this world. It is dangerously drinkable and a perfect after dinner dram. I wish it was bottled at a higher abv though. The palate definitely benefits from adding water but you also hesitate to make it too watery by doing so. It stands on a very delicate place at 40% abv. Is it worth of your money around 60-70 bucks? Yeah, I would say so (after a second or two of hesitation)...
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