Whisky Connosr
Menu
Buy Whisky Online

Nikka Coffey Grain

Japanese Coffey Dessert

0 690

@FiberfarReview by @Fiberfar

9th Aug 2015

0

Nikka Coffey Grain
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    21
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    90

Show rating data charts

Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

These notes are based on a generous pour of Nikka, courtesy of my uncle. I didn't plan on reviewing it, but the Coffey Grain surprised me so much I ended up writing one anyway.

Nose: Sweet, citrus notes, towards grated orange rinds. There is an overall solid fruitiness to this whisky, complemented by spices. The nose has a character reminiscent of a quality bourbon, with pleasant vanilla and oak notes.

Palate: Quite a bit of sweetness from the corn. I also found a lot of barley on my palate, which was a pleasant surprise. The spicy notes had me thinking of a rye whiskey as well, with cinnamon and warming pepper. Curiously enough, I got a tiny initial hint of salt, but it passed rather quickly.

Finish: The finish was the least interesting part of this dram, not quite living up to the nose and palate. Spicy heat from cinnamon and pepper, with a good amount of sweetness and some caramel. The finish is reasonably long, but turned a bit sour towards the end.

Comment: I found this whisky to be very enjoyable, and I'll make sure to have a bottle in my cabinet.

Find where to buy Nikka whisky

Nose:

Body:

Palate:

Related Nikka reviews

Read more Nikka Coffey Grain reviews

6 comments

@Cunundrum
Cunundrum commented

I want to try this one

9 years ago 0

@Fiberfar
Fiberfar commented

Well worth trying, in my opinion! I'll be getting myself a bottle at the next opportunity.

9 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Fiberfar, I am delighted to see that you are a fan of Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky.

It is one of only 3 corn whiskies I put into its own elite class, along with the Canadian whisky Ninety 20 yo and the now very hard-to-find 61.8% abv version of Balcones True Blue. There is lots of very vibrant flavour in each one of these.

9 years ago 0

@Fiberfar
Fiberfar commented

@Victor, the Coffey Grain is above any grain I've tried so far. For once, the price seems to be around the same level as other countries as well, which is a double victory for me; a reasonably priced single grain whisky, miles ahead of many of the other ones in the same price range.

9 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Fiberfar, I don't know the industrial specs here, but if I had to guess, I would guess;

1) Nikka Coffey Grain is 100% corn whisky. I don't taste any wheat here

2) unlike Scottish "grain whisky", this is probably NOT distilled at the near-vodka 90+% abv distillation proofs, then typically diluted down to 40%. This has the sort of vibrant flavour left when distilled at much lower ABV, and then not ridiculously diluted

9 years ago 0

@Fiberfar
Fiberfar commented

I checked nikkawhisky.eu, which seems to be their European website, and it states the following:

"An essential component of the house blends, the Nikka Coffey Grain is an original single grain whisky, distilled mainly from corn in a Coffey still."

What they put in the term "mostly" is anybody's guess, I suppose.

I agree with you on point 2, absolutely no feeling of this being diluted. Good point!

9 years ago 0