Nikka Pure Malt White
Pure soap (white)
0 170
Review by @WhiskyNotes
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall70
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Nikka Pure Malt White is our final review in the Japanese series. As a matter of fact, it’s not entirely Japanese. Pure Malt White is a blend of peated Nikka whisky and Scotch Islay whisky (probably Coal Ila). Nikka Pure Malt Black is also peated but it contains only Nikka whisky.
Nikka Pure Malt White (43%, OB 2010, 50cl)
Nose: a very refined mix of elegant peat (clear and present, but not a kick in your face) and juicy fruits. Cold ashes, medicinal notes in the distance. Great balance with the Japanese influence: coconut cream, oranges, nectarine, passion fruit, a little leather. Hints of vanilla. I really like the fusion. Mouth: starts Caol Ila-esk: smoky and slightly peppery. Hints of walnuts. Evolves on malty notes with honey and a distinct floweriness, which develops into a clear soapiness. Is this Yoichi and 1980?s Bowmore then? Bowmore is owned by Suntory, so it’s unlikely they would sell spirit to their opponent Nikka, but you never know. Finish: again quite floral (violets and lavender) with a dry peatiness.
Flowery notes are sometimes a bit tricky and personally I have difficulty with all kinds of soapy notes. Maybe other batches are more enjoyable?
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Sorry to hear about the soap. I cannot tolerate soap in whisky either. If it were my bottle I would leave it alone and check the flavours every six months or so. I have a bottle of Elijah Craig 12 yo bourbon which had a horrible intense soapy finish. A full two years of open bottle later there was no trace of the soap. That succeeds in making the one bottle enjoyable, but it does not make me want to take a chance by buying a second bottle of the same whiskey.