Nikka Yoichi 10YO Whiskey: Persistent, Enduring & Amazingly Endless.
- Oct 18, 2015
- 3 min read
This week we've got one awesome whiskey for you, all the way from the rich, bountiful land that is Japan. And if you’re after a whiskey that'll both delight your peaty whiskey needs and tantalise your sweet tooth, then this fella will certainly not disappoint! So, without further-a-boozy-due, let's introduce this top-notch heart stealer: Nikka Yoichi 10 year old Japanese Whiskey.
Weighing in at 45% ABV, this single malt whiskey hails from Yoichi in Hokkaido, Japan. Founded by Masataka Taketsuru back in 1934, Nikka Whiskey is distilled using direct heating distillation (a traditional method hardly used today – even in Scotland), in which pot stills are directly heated with finely powdered natural coal. Once distilled, the whiskey is left to mature in barrels made by the finest wood this company could find. And this gives it a depth and body to bloody die for! But if you don't want to take our inebriated word for it then Jim Murray gave this bottle 93 points in his Whiskey Bible. So there, this is some seriously well made booze! And on a side note, if you want to do a bit more swatting up then check out Masataka Taketsuru, he’s one incredibly awesome individual. But anyway, let’s get to the good part!
And as soon as you get your nose stuck in, it’s the waves upon waves of smooth, deep peat smoke that so elegantly snakes its way out of that glass of yours and encases your whole freaking head in just pure and unwavering gorgeousness! It’s so wonderfully soft and equally entrancing, but brings with it with a rounded, earthy edge. And this mars so well with the bursts of plump fruit that are now entwining their way around your nose. Apricots dance their way out of the glass with such a delectable sweetness, and you get a slight hint of pear drops that whisks you away to days when you could buy a hell of a lot of them for only a quid! It’s punchy, ripe and deliciously fruitful. But these aromas are really full, lively and eager to jump out of that bloody glass of yours; and it’s pretty damn amazing! An inkling of vanilla is in there too but it's thicker, creamier and more voluptuousness.
But as soon as you get a dram of this down you, you’ll find it’s that earthy peat that not only commandeers your whole mouth but also continues to snake up that nose of yours, blowing your senses wide open. It’s so prominent, so captivating and just so damn insane! But if we’re honest here, we’ve never really been a fan of peated whiskies before. Maybe it’s our over commanding sweet tooth or the fact we’ve accidentally swigged too many cigarette-end-laden Fosters beer cans at house parties, but whatever it is, this whiskey has definitely pulled us over to the peaty side; and couldn’t be freaking happier!
But this whiskey also packs so much more in the bottle. Carry on sipping and you’ll find those ripe, plump fruits that tickled that nose of yours so awesomely, bowl their harmonious way in, filling your mouth with pure nectarous delight. Man, this is some serious stuff! Not only does the fruit bring a beautiful sweetness to this bottle, but it also has an encapsulating sharpness that just rounds of that sweetness so it isn't too overbearing. This whiskey is like pure velvet on your tongue! Next to enter this flavourful knees up are pummels of oak that shine through like a bloody spotlight. And this stays with you, along with that earthy peat, to the very end delivering a smooth and honourable finish. It's persistent, enduring and amazingly endless, like a loyal comrade and that couldn't be more Japanese.
But what wins us over with this whiskey is that soft, deep peat smoke that literally poured its way into our hearts and changed not only our taste buds, but also our minds on where we stand with smoky whiskies. And that plump, explosion of fruit that mars so well with the peat smoke definitely got a monumental high five from our sweet tooth! OK, yes, this bottle will set you back a buck or two but it is well worth the money. It’s some top quality stuff! And we’re not surprised these guys are making the Scots shake in their boots. They’re bringing some serious game; so get involved!
You can pick up a bottle here.
Comments