02 Mar Whisky Wednesday: Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 year old

This week’s Whisky Wednesday features a pure malt whisky named after its founder and a founding father of the Japanese whisky: Nikka’s Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 year old.

Whisky: Taketsuru 12 year old Pure Malt
Distiller: Nikka Whisky
Country: Japan
Type: Vatted malt whisky
ABV: 40%

Colour (what does it look like?):
Bright gold

Nose (what does it smell like?):
Apple, plum jam, vanilla, coffee

Palate (what does it taste and feel like?):
Sweet and oily, apple cider, cinnamon, almond, custard

Finish (how does the flavour finish on the palate?):
Good length, creamy, biscuity, grassy smoke

Background

Founded by Masataka Taketsuru in 1934, Nikka Whisky is one of the largest producers of whisky in Japan today. Currently, Nikka has two distilleries in Japan: at Yoichi on the northern island of Hokkaido (blog post from our visit to come!) and Miyagikyo in Sendai on the north-east of the main island, Honshu.

Both distilleries feature in the Taketsuru Pure Malt range. Pure malt whisky, also known as vatted malt or blended malt whisky, comprises a blend of single malt whiskies (distilled exclusively from malted barley) from more than one distillery.

Taketsuru Pure Malt whiskies – starting from the relatively new no-age statement through to the 35 year old – combine the strong, smoky character of Yoichi single malt with the elegant, sherry fruitiness of Miyagikyo single malt. It’s blended to showcase the features of both single malts and so it’s a pretty good introduction to Nikka and both Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.

And if you needed any more validation, in the World Whiskies Awards Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 year old won in the ‘Best Non-Scotch Blended Malt 12 years & under’ category in 2012 and the ‘Best Japanese Blended Malt 12 years & under’ category in 2013.

Best drinking

Neat, on an ice ball or as a highball with soda and lemon

What do you think?

Leave a comment with your thoughts on Nikka’s Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 year old – or come try it at Tokyo Bird tonight! Mention #WhiskyWednesdays to get free bar snacks with your Whisky of the Week (Wednesdays only).