Nikka Yoichi 10 Year

The aroma begins with lightly smoked salmon with a hint of lemon and lime juice, followed by dark chocolate-covered sea salt caramels and espresso, then caramelized mangoes, mildly tart pineapple and kiwi. It evolves into sandalwood, ginger, and polished oak with minimal alcohol burn. The taste has a medium mouthfeel, starting with creamy tropical fruits before a moderate spice that gradually fades to charred vegetation, dark chocolate-covered caramels, and espresso. Then come mildly sour fruits like pineapple, apricots, and lychee, evolving into moderate baking spices, sandalwood, and slightly bitter black tea with low alcohol burn. The finish is medium length, beginning with creamy tropical fruits that recede into a background of mild ashy smoke, dark chocolate, and black tea. Overall, a pleasant but slightly disappointing dram. The smoke is subtle, with a balance of creamy fruits and mild spices on the nose that doesn't carry through to the palate. The smoke becomes more prominent, with a charred vegetal bitterness that overshadows the fruits. The finish starts promisingly with creamy fruits before mild bitter smoky ash and over-steeped tea take over. This was the 2022 bottling, so I'm unsure if the quality differs from older releases. However, at around $175+ if you can find it, I would skip it, as there are many other drams I prefer for less money.

I believe this is a new release, though reviews about dates are confusing. My assumption is it came out within the last two years. So, it's a new bottling. Priced at $150... I'll let that sink in. Nose - Smoked vinegar apples over coal, followed by honey and sugar. Then subtle oak notes emerge, hinting at mild age. It's both a bit peculiar and delightful. As it evolves, pie crust and pleasant dessert notes spread, revealing a truly enjoyable whisky. Taste - This won't appeal to many whisky enthusiasts. It's funky and unusual. It's youthful, coal-forward, peated, and lacks a sweet introduction. It also offers apples, some sweet and sour elements with lovely coal smoke over mineral peat in the best way possible. Lemon-lime, smoked chocolate oak... it's quite interesting. Counterpoint - The proof is low, which is a drawback. It can be somewhat thin at times. Double counterpoint - The finish remains quite long and it works. 2.50 out of 5 stars from me. I genuinely enjoy this one. Is it worth $150? Perhaps... but I paid for shipping, so I overpaid.

My saying 'there isn't a bad Japanese whisky' nearly met its exception with this one. The aroma is so off-putting (at least to me) that I thought the taste would also be bad, thankfully, it wasn't. Bottled at 45% ABV, pale gold. On the nose, the alcohol note was very strong. Peppery and spicy on the nose. Oily, prune, lemon, and cheap chocolate notes. Awful on the nose initially. It needs time to sit. Very spicy, like chili, on the nose. On the palate, it improves significantly. Oak, citrus, lemon candy, peppery, pleasant, and an ashy note. The finish is full of ginger and pepper, and it's long. The worst Japanese whisky I've ever had, yet it's still a decent dram: 83 out of 100.

Picture this: a berry-forward IPA during a July 4th fireworks display. You catch the scent of charred wood combined with a hint of fruit. It evoked a similar, pleasant sensation. The flavor is equally impressive – a rich medley of sweet, toasted nuts such as hazelnuts and macadamias, abundant peat, and a generous splash of vanilla. I found it diminished with ice. Best enjoyed neat or with a tiny bit of water. This is a remarkably crafted spirit, truly showcasing the exceptional skill from Japan. It's incredibly smooth (which could be a plus or minus, depending on your disposition). Just expertly made and harmoniously balanced.

Appearance: A light brown hue, resembling chocolate and apricot. Smell: Powdery vanilla, baked apples, and apricot blossoms. Body: A medium to full build; possessing a rounded and balanced structure. Taste: It initially presents apricot, transitioning to baked apples, then slowly leading to the sensation of being by a campfire. Aftertaste: This spirit lingers with considerable elegance. Even after some time, the vanilla and campfire notes intermingle, remaining on the palate as a reminder of the fine whisky just consumed. (Apologies for any misspellings; English is not my native language)

Nose: Hints of malted barley reminiscent of beer, followed by fresh barley and fruit. A floral finish. It’s fresh, lively, and dark. Taste: An oily, velvety entry on the palate, transitioning to coal smoke. Notes of vanilla, nuts, fruit, and toffee. Finish: Creamy texture with oak and fruit. Lingering deep smoke in the aftertaste. Balance: Profound, dark, and velvety notes present throughout the tasting. An excellent single malt whisky from Japan.