Nikka 2000 Coffey Grain Cask# 231298

Another Nikka Coffey Grain whisky. This time a 11 year old single cask aged for 11 years. Bottled at 63% cask strength and as of writing this still available in some stores.

• Nose: Oak, dry, water soaked grains, slight sweetness
• Mouth: Oak, raisins, with water a (quality) vodka note comes forth
• Finish: oak, sweet, some raisins again, with water slightly alcoholic again

Comment: Not overly complex but a grain whisky which despite its for a grain whisky young age is quite tasty. I enjoy it more without water despite its high strength.

83 points

Nikka Coffey Malt

Nikka Coffey Malt - tasted this one together with the Nikka Coffey Grain. Distilled in the Miyagikyo distillery. 0.7l bottle with 45% vol and no age statement.

• Nose: Glue, malty, sweet acorn, candied apple, hints of smoke
• Mouth: Oily, creamy, light malt
• Finish: A bit alcohol, light caramel and malt, glue again, a little bit of Miyagikyo profile in the very end.

Comment: Definitely not the usual Miyagikyo profile. It needs some time to breath for the nose to open up. Like the Coffey Grain the mouth feel has a very unique creamy mouth feel. Overall the malt wasn't too exciting to me though. 

78 points

(2014)

Nikka Coffey Grain

To quote the Nikka website: Nikka operates two Coffey stills (named after its inventor Aeneas Coffey) within the Miyagikyo distillery for the elaboration of its grain whiskies. Imported from Scotland in 1963, these old stills yield a distillate with more flavour and depth than modern column stills, imparting a distinct character that defines the house blends. These two unique bottlings showcase the innovative spirit of Nikka.

Bottled in 0,7l bottles at 45% vol. with no age statement. Tasted this together with the Nikka Coffey Malt.

• Nose: Some biting alcohol, light bodied, a little bit raisins, sharp
• Mouth: Creamy or milky..., very grainy taste, light sugar water
• Finish: Alcohol, grain, vodka, light oak influences, short

Comment: I did not enjoy this very much, a strong alcohol flavor more in the vein of new-make. Nikka has much better offerings in that price-range.

73 points

(2014)

Miyagikyo 1989 - 23yo - Cask #40745

A Nikka Miyagikyo single cask from 1989 bottled in 2010. 60% vol. Not sure what cask type this is...

• Nose: Oak, solvent, a little tobacco, licorice, water opens it up a lot with smoke, sherry and caramel with vanilla
• Mouth: Oily, smoky, burnt ham and burnt/caramelized papaya and figs, oak and something like chewing on fresh green'ish twigs
• Finish: Smoky, a bit oak and sherry, water makes it peppery and more smoky. A tad sharp and fairly dry. At the very end some subtle (Fino?) sherry comes trough.

Comment: Flavorful with some tasty caramelized fruits but it's not one that is easy to grasp. You need two or three sessions with this one. Also a bit rough around the edges.

87 points

Miyagikyo 10

The Nikka Miyagikyo 10 year old. The youngest standard from the Nikka Miyagikyo distillery with an age statement. Bottled with a solid 45% vol.

• Nose: Green vegetables, fresh and light malt, banana, tropical fruits, water makes it fruitier 
• Mouth: A bit smokey and grassy, slightly oily
• Finish: Spices, caramel, vanilla, poundcake with caramel cream, cream, light smoke/ peat and oak.

Comment: Generally not too, it doesn't feel too young although it still feels not completely round. Unlike with the Yoichi I think the Miyagikyo 12 is a good step up from the 10yo.

83 points
(~2014)

Miyagikyo 2002 - Cask# 101127

A Nikka Miyagikyo, been a while since I tasted one. This one was distilled in 2002 and bottled in 2012 just slightly missing the 10 year mark. Aged in a refill Butt and bottled with 62% vol. cask strength.

• Nose: Honey, Grass, fruits (sort of tropical), quite sharp - water lessens the sharpness and brings forth Haribo Gummi Bears (the green ones), kiwi + apple juice
• Mouth: Fruity, slightly oily and depending on the water amount a tad sharp
• Finish: Fruity with apple and kiwi again, sweet and again a bit sharp

Comment: This need and takes quite a bit of water although it is a two edged sword. A little bit brings a lot of fruitiness while some alcoholic sharpness remains. Adding more makes it milder without diluting the overall punch too much but mutes all the lovely fruit. Still I love the fruit here with just a little bit of water.

85 points

Miyagikyo 12

To quote the nikka.com website: "This soft and luxuriantly fragrant single malt whisky is distilled and matured at the Miyagikyo distillery in Sendai. At Miyagikyo, the different natural environment and the use of steam heat distillation results in a malt whisky with a different character from that of Yoichi."
I didn't think the 12yo 70th Anniversary Miyagikyo was too special, although some folks like it a lot, but for me there was a little bitter edge in it that I didn't like. So let's see how the standard 12yo fares. This one is bottled at 45% vol. alcohol.

• Nose: Malty, hints of smoke, honey, spicy and juicy oak, a bit mineral, dry earth with patches of grass
• Mouth: Corn, Adzuki, malty and oily, sweet chestnuts/marrons
• Finish: Medium long, malty, earthy, juicy oak and a bit fruitiness comes trough

Comment: I quite enjoy this one and also like it a lot better than the 70th Anniversary Miyagikyo. The nose is great and very Highland'ish. At the finish it lacks a bit but is still good.

85 points
(2012)

Miyagikyo 12 - 70th Anniversary

Another of the Nikka standard range in 'cask strength' out of the 70th anniversary set. Bottled at 58% vol.
The Miyagikyo distillery is the probably lesser known of the Nikka distilleries.

• Nose: A bit smoke and peat, honey, sweet herbs, oak, very pleasant
• Mouth: Oak, dry'ish, a bit tanins
• Finish: Sweet, oak, again a bit tanins

Comments: While a bit simple it's good stuff, but maybe a bit rough around the edges. Takes water pretty well.

83 points