Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt (Discontinued)

Nose: Fruity with light but rich smoke. The fruit notes are peach, pear, and possibly some pineapple. There are also red fruit notes, both fresh and dried. Something else more sharp lingers at the back - perhaps a sour fruit, but difficult to identify. A pleasant base of caramel and vanilla sits beneath the fruit. The smoke is distinctly Yoichi, a recognizable style, akin to a Japanese Johnnie Walker, which I appreciate. This isn't quite that; it's softer and seems integrated in a way that comes across as smoothed-out background detail rather than a main characteristic. Lastly, some harsher young grain notes emerge as hints of mint and ethanol. It's numbing and slightly distracting, but not overpowering. Palate: Red fruit is the first impression, then gives way to a powdered milk chocolate sensation around the edges of the tongue. Caramel and vanilla develop early with subsequent sips. A chalky mineral note emerges mid-palate alongside something like sour pineapple, both still complemented and underscored by the chocolate - quite pleasing. Smoke builds late and lingers deep into the finish. A kind of generic, but hot, baking spice also builds through the finish. Some chocolate remains, a touch of wood bitterness, and just a hint of mint. I've heard this doesn't compare to the aged Taketsurus that were discontinued about five years ago. That might be true, but it's largely irrelevant to someone like me. I don't see myself as an average whisky drinker - approaching 100 reviews in under a year - but I'm also not hunting through auctions for discontinued bottles like the aged Taketsurus. It is what it is, and I'll accept what's accessible (relatively easily). And, ultimately, this is still quite good. It's a reasonable offering for its price point. Not exceptional value, but not poor value either. I would purchase it again. That said, I'm aware this is also discontinued now. I have another white label Taketsuru on hand. Off the top of my head, I believe the new one is an improvement, but I'll reserve judgment until I review it.

Continuing to sample whiskies from my collection that I haven't reviewed yet. I purchased this bottle a few years ago and it has apparently been discontinued since. It was another spur-of-the-moment buy when Japanese whisky was becoming very popular, and my preferred choice (Hibiki 12) was becoming quite hard to find. Appearance is a clear Pantone 137. The aroma suggests fruitcake and honeycomb, followed by hints of salt, malt, and some bready yeast. It's not as thick as the Mars Iwai Tradition I just reviewed, but it has a certain creaminess; it's not watery, and the flavors are richer and more pronounced. There's some sweet dried orange, and a touch of smoke and charcoal in the aftertaste. While this whisky is pleasant enough, it doesn't hold up against its Nikka Whisky From The Barrel sibling, which is exceptional. This is a blend, and is classified as a "Japanese Whisky." Scored 3.5. Would I purchase it again? That's somewhat irrelevant, as this specific bottling has been discontinued--though a 2020 (and ongoing) version exists with a different label and a "revised formula" according to the company. 43% ABV. Note: All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

The sherry-influenced nose invites a thoughtful and careful approach to appreciate this whisky’s subtleties. I detect almond, moss, and warming malt alongside the sherry. Manuka honey appears on the palate, along with the aromas previously noted. The malt is rich yet gentle, akin to a lightly roasted coffee. The texture is pleasing and youthful, with a slight astringency and an acorn-like quality. The Taketsuru Pure Malt concludes with a burst of spice and marzipan, carrying the otherwise delicate flavors back to their origin. The scent of subtle pipe tobacco remains in the empty glass. This exceptional whisky is intricate and nuanced, possessing abundant, though somewhat restrained, character. It's meant to be savored and approached with patience as it continues to reveal itself; like a familiar location that you discover still has secrets to share. This whisky has elements reminiscent of a Speyside single malt such as AnCnoc.

A robust, Japanese blended malt without an age statement from Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt whisky, named in honor of the company's founder, Masataka Taketsuru. It contains a significant amount of whisky from the Miyagikyo distillery, along with malt aged in Sherry casks, contributing to its rich, spiced aroma. It presents a floral beginning with hints of sherry-soaked plums, raisins, and sliced green apples, along with honeyed grains, black pepper, traces of caramel, cinnamon, and barrel char. Its full and spicy profile features notes of espresso beans, milk chocolate, tobacco leaf, and sherry-infused fruit, alongside nutmeg, oaky vanilla, floral undertones, and a faint hint of smoke. The experience concludes with a lengthy and intricate finish marked by cinnamon, creamy caramel, smoke, golden barley, and a final whisper of coffee. October 2017 / August 2022

This is a pleasant, smooth Japanese whisky. The overall taste isn't incredibly deep, but it has some good notes, and the finish is quite nice. The aroma is a bit weak, but it has that pleasant honey sweetness characteristic of other Japanese whiskies I've had. The palate reveals a slightly nutty character with perhaps just a touch of orange. That honey sweetness persists on the finish; again, it's very smooth and lasts quite nicely. The aroma and finish are really good, and more depth of flavor would truly enhance the solid aspects of this spirit. The aroma and finish are really good, and more depth of flavor would truly enhance the solid aspects of this spirit.

Aroma: Honey, dried fruits - apple, pear, cherry, golden raisins, citrus peel, sherry, light creaminess, the faintest hint of a nutty almond note, medium earthy notes, heather, honeysuckle. Taste: Light honey sweetness combined with fruit, herbal notes with an earthy touch, nuttiness attempts to emerge, pleasant light char that's almost like peat, a citrusy, almost lemon-pepper note on the finish. Medium-length finish, a well-balanced whiskey, smooth, easygoing. Not overly complicated but certainly not dull. Hopefully, the replacement is just as good.