Yet another single cask Yoichi. This time aged 25 years. We have reviewed the 5 year and the 10 year previously. The 5 year was a little too raw for my liking and the 10 just sings! How will the 15 year hold up? Nate and I both independently took notes on this one.
Nikka Yoichi Single Cask 25 year old. Cask No. 22I08A bottled at 54%
Nikka Yoichi Single Cask 25
Chris:
Color – light yellow
Nose - malt, smoke meat, hints of sweetness
Palate – full, sweet candies, salty, hints of smoke, malt, alcohol opens up through the nose, ripe bananas.
Finish – full, sweet, lingering numbness
Nate:
Color -lustrous yellow
Nose – marshmallow, light peat, butter
Palate – grain, salt, light smoke, coconut?
Finish – lingering grain and slight medicinal notes
All in all this is wonderful whisky. It is more restrained and refined than the 10 year old. The flavors are better integrated but very feisty for a 25 year old whisky.
* Although slightly out of order, there is a 15 year old single cask sitting around here somewhere that needs to be tried again – so look for that in the near future.
It’s become very clear to me that I need more Nikka Yoichi in my life.
It’s becoming clear to me that I need more Japanese whisky in my life, period!
josh i am with you.
we need more whisky in our lives (and jap on top)!
I was lucky enough to try this in 2007, on a trip to Hokkaido with my gf. The distillery was, honestly, one of the highlights of a fantastic trip, and tasting the 25 yr single cask was the pinnacle…I can only describe it as liquid gold. It was infinitely complex (to my admittedly limited palate), and smooth smooth smooooooooth. However, as I blew all my money on actually getting there, I had to settle for buying the 15 yr single cask, which I plan to open when my first child is born! Please PLEASE do a review of the 15 yr, I want to know whether it’s worth saving for that birthday, or if I should go back and get a bottle of the 25!
Thanks for the post Raj. You are lucky to have made it to the distillery! I made plans to finally go there in August for the first time. The 15 is solid, I hope to do a full review in the next coming weeks along with some other Japanese whiskies. But I definitely don’t think you “settled” by getting the 15.