Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky (43%)

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt is a Japanese blended malt bottled at 43% ABV. It is named after Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka, and carries no age statement. Malt whiskies from the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries are vatted together, with no grain whisky in the blend. Taketsuru learned whisky-making in Scotland and chose those two sites for the natural resources around them. The nose is fresh orchard fruit such as apple and apricot, with toasted vanilla oak. The palate is smooth, with honeyed malt, pear, starfruit, caramel and soft spice. The finish is long, with dark chocolate and oak spice.