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Nikka 21 years Taketsuru

spicy malty
4
(3)€495Japan, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Masataka Taketsuru brought whisky-making home to Japan after studying the craft in Scotland. The bottling that carries his name honours that long apprenticeship. This 21 year old marries malt from two very different homes: rugged Yoichi by the cold northern sea. And gentler Miyagikyo in its river valley. The result feels layered and patient. Warm cinnamon and nutmeg lead into honey, ripe melon and a soft buttery weight. A faint thread of smoke trails the finish, with ginger and pepper close behind. Two decades in oak give it real depth. Pour it neat and let it open slowly.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Nikka

Nikka is a Japanese whisky distillery founded by Masataka Taketsuru, known as the father of Japanese whisky, in 1934. The distillery is located in Yoichi, a town on the northern island of Hokkaido, and is one of the oldest and most respected whisky producers in Japan. Nikka's whisky is made using a combination of Scottish and Japanese techniques. The distillery produces several expressions of single malt whisky, including the Yoichi 10-year-old and the Miyagikyo 12-year-old. Nikka's whisky is known for its delicate and complex flavor profile, which often features notes of fruit, oak, and smoke. The distillery's blending skills are also highly regarded, and its blended whiskies, such as the Nikka From the Barrel, have won numerous awards.

4Average rating

24Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Nikka 21 years Taketsuru

Nikka 21 years Taketsuru is a richly aged malt whisky from Japan. It carries the name of Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka and the father of Japanese whisky. The Nikka house draws on malt from two distilleries with very different characters. Coastal Yoichi brings power and a touch of smoke. Inland Miyagikyo brings a softer, fruitier voice. This is whisky built on patience. Twenty-one years in oak round off every rough edge. The wood adds a gentle sawdust note and warm spice that never turns harsh. The nose opens with orange, lime and bright fresh fruit. Toffee and a little bread follow underneath. On the palate, cinnamon and nutmeg lead the spice. Honey and caramel add sweetness, while melon keeps it lively. A buttery, oily texture coats the mouth and holds the flavours together. The finish is where the spice truly speaks. Ginger and pepper warm the throat, trailed by a quiet wisp of smoke. It is long, balanced and deeply satisfying. Nikka 21 years Taketsuru is best enjoyed neat. This lets the layered malt show its full range. The bottling has earned the title of World's Best Blended Malt four times at the World Whiskies Awards. That track record speaks to the skill behind it. The honey and melon keep it bright against the warm spice. The ginger and pepper give the long finish real life. It drinks beautifully as a slow, contemplative pour. For anyone exploring premium Japanese whisky, this aged expression is a benchmark worth seeking out.