Nikka Pure Malt Black

I'm assuming I'm reviewing the correct bottle. Connosr doesn't seem to have the Nikka Taketsuru pure malt black no age statement in it's database. Deep flavors that are buttery smooth, with some sweetness that reminds me of a Dewars blend. Also some citrus and vanilla that makes this a delicious copy of a scotch & bourbon all in one.

A pure malt which is primarily made from Yochi malt. No age statement and no statement as to the other ingredients.

• Nose: Marzipan, peaches, nectarines and golden syrup come first, underneath there are wine gums, some violets, macadamias and even some vanilla smoke. With water some anise comes through to add some bite also barley sugar and seemingly a Nikka theme, the dinner rolls are coming again.

• Pallet: really thick and syrupy, boiled lemon sweets, toffee and more ripe fruits, then soft peat and nutmeg. With water goes a bit medicinal interestingly enough and some pepper comes out too.

• Finish: peat and nutmeg linger around then give way to golden toast. With water milk chocolate note comes out

This is really good, well balanced, well flavoured. To be drunk at anytime for any reason, this is a good'n

Parts III and IV of my Nikka Tasting notes cover two whiskies in the Pure Malt range - Black and White. These are both blended malts so could be considered antecedents to the Taketsuru Pure Malt expressions (12, 17 and 21 Year Olds). Pure Malt Black gets the majority of it's malt from Yoichi, the rest from Miyagikyo.

The colour is burnished copper; the nose is heavy with malt, solvent, walnuts, and some peat smoke. Lots of toffee and dark fruits.Quite a rich nose - water brings out more of those solvent, turpentine notes.

The palate features even more toffee and caramel, also wet grass and liquorice. I get this acrid smoke, yet it is in the mouth rather than the nose. As you would expect, this is very malty but rather strong. Water spices things up a little, with some cloves and nutmeg.

The finish is medium length, but has depth of dark, juicy raisins - but a bitter off-note that is kind of tannic, or a bit too woody? I enjoy the nose of this more than the palate - perhaps some of it is slightly over-oaked? Enjoyable, but not quite up to the level of the From The Barrel nor the Taketsuru ranges. I feel like I enjoyed this more a few nights ago at our tasting than I am now...for some reason.

The Nikka Pure Malt Black is a peaty Japanese whisky produced from predominantly Yoichi malt with some Islay malt in the mix. The Pure Malt should actually be called a blended malt, but let us be honest, the term does not stick.

The peat is immediately present on the nose, but remains discreet. It is first and foremost a basket full of juicy yellow and red fruit that vies for attention. Mango, peach, blood oranges and quite some nuts. A jar full of honey and a touch of bubblegum.

It is mildly oily and spicy on the palate. Some pepper and ginger confit. The juicy fruit in a smoky jacket gets company from a handful of salt. Hints of butterscotch. Reminds me of salty licorice. The bubblegum is never far away, though. The peat becomes more powerful.

The finish is slightly smoky with the emphasis on the sweet fruit.

This is a complex and friendly priced Japanese whisky.

Nose: Fruity, and a little woody with a bit of orange zest,vanilla and butterscotch.

Palate: Cumin powder(I know this sounds odd), followed by pepper, vanilla and spicy wood.

Finish:Medium on Malty notes and fruit.

Not a bad dram,but nothing extraordinary. I know Jim Murray scored this one at the 90’s but In my opinion it’s in the lower 80’s. Nothing exciting, but well made.

Following the ancient scottish tradition of reviewing a whisky which bears the word "black" in its name to celebrate Jean-Luc's Birthday, here I am. Please note that the origins of this traditions are lost in the celtic heritage of Scotland, so it would be rude of me to neglect it. Having used my bottle of Black Bowmore to create the finest whisky cola ever tasted, I find myself compelled to replace it with Nikka Pure Malt Black.

This dram is what we used to call a "vatted" whisky in the past, i.e. a whisky created blending different malt whiskies, without the addition of grains.

The nose, as often with Japanese whiskies, is fragrant and almost "perfumey" (is that a word?). I get an immediate sweetness, fruits and treacle with an underlying earthiness that reminds me of the presence of peat.

On the palate the peat is much more present, I can feel it immediately and it stays with you in a nice balance with the sweet fruits (mature apples, a bit of peach, tropical fruits?)and the treacle. Mind you, is not Islay-like peat, it resembles the damp, earthy peat you find in Highland Park and maybe Jura whiskies (Superstition). Anyway, the whole is extremely balanced and without the off-key notes I notice from time to time in my bottle of Superstition. When I swallow I get also an undefined sensation of old, dusty furniture or books. Lovely.

Finish certainly doesn't last an eternity and continues to show that nice peat/sweat interplay, which makes me think that this one would be a total winner if bottled at a higher strength like is cousin "From the Barrel" blend.

Overall, this is a nice dram, balanced, pleasant and with an unengaging complexity which keep you interested without making you scratch your head. A perfect Birthday Dram I'd say. Slainte Jean-Luc!

Nose, Taste, Finish and Balance are graded out of 2.5 each:

Nose: Pure malt on the label, pure malt on the nose. Lots of it. Once you make it through that initial malty wave, there is warm honeyed oak, bedded in with fresh seaweed and salty smoke. A very complex nose. 2.0

Taste: Medium-bodied and effortlessly gentle. The oily seaweed sweeps around the palate, leaving a trail of smokey-sweet malt, and luxuriously spiced plum sauce. Wow. 2.5

Finish: This intriguing plum note sticks around for the after-show, continually growing as it welcomes in new cinnamon and spice flavours, adding to the ever-present smokey malt, all swirling together in a seemingly perpetual vortex of flavour. At the risk of repeating myself - wow. 2.5

Balance: Well, if I was to fault this blend, it would be to say that the nose, although delicious, is perhaps overly self-depricating, as it really doesn't do justice to the work of art that is to follow. For a work of art it is, almost a visual experience as the flavours spiral through the palate in a mesmerising display of balance and poise, with the plum and seaweed really stealing the show. A firm favourite. 2.0

Nose: a nice marriage of sweet, fruity notes (peach marmalade, oranges) and dry, earthy notes (peat, faint smoke, oak). Noticeable vanilla. Hints of flowery honey.

Mouth: more peat now, even phenolic hints of gouache. Slightly peppery. Ripe fruits and a bit of toffee. Salty hints of liquorice in the very end.

Finish: spices, sweet cocoa and smoke.

A good all-rounder with a firm character and balanced peat.