Nikka Yoichi 20 Years

DESCRIPTION

A powerful cask-strength 20-year-old single malt from the Yoichi distillery that previously bested some very high-profile Scottish malts at a blind tasting in 2003 and received 95 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.

TASTING NOTES 

Nose: amazingly original at first nosing, starting on old kelp, oysters, fishmonger’s… Also tar, diesel oil, well-hung pheasant. All that settles down then and we get more ‘regular’ nuts, cigar box, leather, caramel crème and vanilla – and let’s not forget the spices (curry, lots of cinnamon). A fantastic and unusual profile.

Mouth: bold, ample, spicy attack, with a great sourness (small apples, grape skin). Gets quite acrid but that’s great in this context. Superb sharpness. Develops on ‘genuine’ liquorice, something varnishy, tea, notes of Fino (flor, old walnuts). Hints of kiwi and green apples. Beautiful and highly original. Long finish mostly on fresh apples and cinnamon… I love it, I think it’s a masterpiece. 91 points.

PRODUCT SUMMARY