Nikka Yoichi 10 Year Old Japanese Single Malt (70cl, 45%)

Nikka Yoichi 10 is a Japanese single malt from the Yoichi distillery on Hokkaido, bottled at 45% in a 70cl bottle. Yoichi is the first Nikka distillery and distils in small pot stills over coal fires, about a kilometre from the Sea of Japan. The ten-year-old matured in ex-bourbon casks, virgin oak casks and sherry casks, which sit alongside a light smoke and a malty character. The nose brings toasted oak, spice, apples, apricots and malt. The palate is full and round with lavender, vanilla, spicy oak and a little smoke, and the finish is long and complex, with oak and floral notes.