Nikka From The Barrel
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Distiller:
Nikka
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Bottler:
Nikka
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ABV:
51.4%
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Age:
NAS
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Price:
$$$$$
Pleasant but void of show stealing opportunity, Nikka Straight from the Barrel is an exercise in moderation, delivering a pleasant blend of sweetness, fruits and a dash of ash on the finish. You could spend $70 a lot worse ways, especially if it must be a Japanese whiskey choice.
- Raided Score: 83
- Publication: Whiskey Consensus
- Excerpt: I must admit that I enjoyed Nikka From the Barrel more that I anticipated. The balance of sweet and smoky surprised me since I am still a little sensitive to Peat.
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- Raided Score: 86
- Publication: Whisky Monster
- Excerpt: Let’s agree on a point, this whisky is not the best Japanese whisky I had, but considering the balance, availability (especially in Europe), and the price point, I had everything I ever wanted.
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- Raided Score: 94
- Publication: WhiskyCast
- Excerpt: The taste is smooth, yet full of flavor as the spices are balanced well with hints of oak, fresh berries, and caramel candy.
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- Raided Score: 85
- Publication: Whiskey Raiders
- Excerpt: By no means does this dram deliver waves of complexity that wash over you, but it's pleasant, easily approachable, and demonstrates some solid blending.
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- Raided Score: 96
- Publication: Drinkhacker
- Excerpt: The U.S. bottling comes across as distinctly fruitier, though it is still loaded with wood. There’s more vanilla here, giving a more bourbon-heavy, Westernized character, with an overall sweeter body.
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- Raided Score: 92
- Publication: Distiller
- Excerpt: This whisky dances across all taste buds with cloves, cinnamon and orange zest seasoned by salt spray. A walnut like bitterness accompanies the extended finish. A very rich blend.
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- Raided Score: 94
- Publication: Whiskey Advocate
- Excerpt: Overall, it feels generously malty, with the grain whisky lending broad sweetness and supple mouthfeel across the long finish.
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Raided Score is a conversion from an external site's score, to our in house uniform scoring system. Please see the FAQ for more.
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Synopsis:
Pleasant but void of show stealing opportunity, Nikka Straight from the Barrel is an exercise in moderation, delivering a pleasant blend of sweetness, fruits and a dash of ash on the finish. You could spend $70 a lot worse ways, especially if it must be a Japanese whiskey choice.
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Intro:
A barrel strength blend of whiskeys from Nikka (probably, it's Japanese whiskey after all) - this release from Nikka has reached cult popularity over the years, even after it came to the US market, satisfying some of the overwhelming demand. Let's get to it.
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Nose:
Almond, key lime pie, sweet cream and a nutty quality. Amaretto, bright peach and a faint honey note. Lightly floral.
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Taste:
Medium mouth feel, though with a pinprick of ethanol. Plum, honey, almond. Tiny bit of pepper, breakfast cereal, rising bread. Faintest hint of a little wisp of smoke. Sweet, fruity, bready. Not breathtakingly complex but enjoyable all the same.
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Finish:
Medium finish, sweet and nutty once more. Reminds me a lot of a nice Ben Nevis expression with a hint of amaretto and a faint wisp of burning wood. Doesn't hang around too too long, but once more it is pleasant.
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Overall:
By no means does this dram deliver waves of complexity that wash over you, but it's pleasant, easily approachable, and demonstrates some solid blending. It's nice overall, and sacrilege be damned, works well in a high ball. Toss Toki to the curb and use this instead, especially now that it can be had anywhere in the US.
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Score:
6
- Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources
