Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt New Blend

Yamazaki 12 Year

$399.99

The Yamazaki 12 Year is one of the most iconic and recognizable Japanese Single Malt Whiskies. Bottled at 43%.

Yamazaki was the first distillery in Japan built to make single malt whisky, and it can be argued that its success is chiefly what lead Suntory Global to becoming one of the major global whisky-makers today. The distillery was founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii and Mastataka Taketsuru, and has been operating for over a century now.

Producer Description

"The Yamazaki whisky is Suntory's flagship single malt whisky, from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery. With a range of options from Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve to 12, 18, and 25 years old, all of these prized whiskies contain carefully blended components aged in American, Spanish, and Japanese Mizunara oak."

Nikka From the Barrel Extra Marriage

$70.19

This limited edition NIkka Blend has been released to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of From the Barrel. The whisky is from a batch of From the Barrel, further matured for up to 6 months after marrying. Bottled at 51.4%.

Producer Description

"To commemorate the 40th anniversary of From the Barrel's debut, Nikka is releasing a limited edition "From the Barrel Extra Marriage." This expression features double the marriage time —up to 6 months of marrying in oak—resulting in a whisky with richer flavor and a longer finish. The secret behind its gorgeous flavor is the unique combination of complex blending, higher ABV 51.4% and secondary aging process known as "marriage.

"The complex formula is created by blending more than 100 different batches of malt and grain whiskies. After blending, the whisky is filled into used barrels and matured for up to 6 more months. This "marriage" process harmonizes all components in the formula, resulting in a mellow taste."

Nikka Coffey Malt 45%

$85.49

Note: Nikka's own website notes that this bottle does not meet the criteria to be called a Japanese Whisky. The good news is that might mean it also contains Ben Nevis Single Malt, as the Ben Nevis Distillery is also owned by Nikka.

It is unusual to see single malt whisky distilled in a column (AKA continuous or Coffey) still, but here you have it and the result is superb. Formerly exclusive to KWM in Alberta, this is one hell of an interesting dram, soft, layered and very complex.

The sugar yield of malted barley compared with corn and wheat is not favourable, especially when you take the cost of malting and corn subsidies into account. So the Nikka Whisky Co. must have some other designs than simply creating bulk whisky by running barley through their Coffey stills. 

Nikka From the Barrel 51.4%

$61.19

This whisky was featured on Day 21 of our 2024 KWM Not An Advent Calendar Tastings! You can read more about the whisky here.

Note: Nikka's own website notes that this bottle does not meet the criteria to be called a Japanese Whisky. The good news is that might mean it also contain Ben Nevis Single Malt, as Scotland's Ben Nevis Distillery is also owned by Nikka.

Nikka's venerated from the Barrel has been a staple of our whisky shelves for years and will hopefully remain so. This creation from Nikka is a blend of grain and malt from multiple distilleries owned by the company. It is always bottled at 51.4% ABV after the components are married in refill casks for up to half a year to marry together and become a cohesive whole.

500mL bottle.

From the Producer: “Produced from a blend of Miyagikyo and Yoichi single malts and a single grain whisky, NIKKA FROM THE BARREL embodies the expertise of the distillery’s master blenders. Intense, round, and generous, this ambitious, powerful, controlled, high-alcohol blend is acknowledged for its originality. This is a bold whisky. It seizes you and seduces you. It asserts its own style.