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Nikka From The Barrel Whisky

Nikka From The Barrel Whisky

(0.75l, 51.4%)


8.3/10
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The Japanese sure know how to surprise.
 
Made by the Yoichi distillery, the second and smaller distillery of the Nikka Whisky Company. It was founded in 1934 by one of the two most influential men in Japanese Whisky,  Masataka Taketsuru. Yoichi Distillery lies in southern Hokkaido and has three sides surrounded by mountains, a terrain much similar to the one found in Scotland, where Masataka studied the art of Whisky production and returned to Japan as a master blender - with a Scottish wife to boot. Yoichi possesses its own cooperage and is particularly careful when selecting its barrels. Known as Hogshead the barrels are made on-site using new oak. Yoichi produces big, oily spirits in the Highland style.

Nikka From The Barrel Whisky is made by maturing malt and grain Whisky, blending them and then re-casking (a process known as “marriage”) to create a rich harmony of different Whiskies. It’s bottled directly from the re-casked barrels and therefore retains almost the same alcohol percentage. The Barrel Whisky has won top prizes in its category at the World Whisky Awards in 2007 and 2010.

  • Category
    Japanese Whisky
  • Style
    Blended Whisky
  • Region
    Japan
  • Country
    Japan
  • Alcohol
    51.4%
  • Distillery
    Yoichi

Flavor Spiral™

About The Flavor Spiral

Close
caramel
vanilla
spicy
oak
smoky
fruit
cinnamon
floral
sweet
What does Nikka From The Barrel Whisky taste like?

The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Nikka From The Barrel Whisky and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.

We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
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In recent years Japanese Whiskies have won a number of top prizes at the World Whisky Awards and have consistently scored higher than Scotch Whiskies in blind tastings.

Tasting Notes
Appearance / Colour
Gold.
 
Smell / Nose / Aroma
Floral, fruity and a bit spiced. Notes of citrus/orange peel, apricot, vanilla extract, caramel and wood. Christmas pudding, new leather. 
 
Flavour / Taste / Palate
Complex and smooth. Caramel candy, toffee, vanilla, dark-chocolate, nutmeg. A spicy Christmas cake.  
 
Finish
Long, warm and creamy. Loads of oak and a bit of smoke. Red chilli on the back of the throat. Notes of vanilla are present.
 
Comment
Wonderful aroma makes for an excellent start. Great bang-for-the-buck Whisky.

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Ratings & Reviews
Member Reviews and Ratings of Nikka From The Barrel Whisky
Franck
Franck,
Great
 
andre
andre,
It’s good! But I personally don’t like the sweet bitter aftertaste
 
Audrey
Audrey,
Like it. A little sharp, but enjoyable.
 
Kris
Kris,
Banana cream on the nose, and a super flavorful yet smooth sip.
 
Orlando
Orlando,
Very Oaky, good proof on it. If you travel abroad buy it there. Its not worth the $80-$100 it sells for in the US.
 
Nicholas
Nicholas,
One of my favorites, love what Nikka has done with this blend.
 
Elliot
Elliot,
Blow your head off strong. With a touch water makes it better. A nice flavour though.
 
James
James,
Very smooth sip, smoky blend of vanilla and spice.
 
Todd
Todd,
This is a great whiskey! It's smokier than the Nikka Coffey Malt and Coffey Grain whiskies, but is a nice change.
 
Brendan
Brendan,
The higher proof really gives this Japanese whiskey great mouthfeel and enhances the sweet and rich flavors. Worth every penny.
 
Ablan
Ablan,
Smooth, and a bit smokier than I am used to. Good whisky
 
Roy
Roy,
Very disappointing - harsh and flavorless - not recommended and if the price is now $100+ I am happy to have found out at the much cheaper price I paid some time ago.
 
Yordan
Yordan,
Perfect mix between scotch and bourbon notes with a Japanese touch. Excellent example of what a blended whiskey should be!
 
Thomas
Thomas,
Stunning. The Divinely rich colour is elegantly presented in the perfectly understated, minimal bottle. Inside - Caramel, maple, oak & a hint of smoke.. A subtle nod to bourbon lingers on the satisfyingly long and spicy aftertaste - no doubt a result of being aged in bourbon barrels. The best Japanese whisky I’ve had the pleasure to try to date and a constant in my drinks cabinet.
 
Brandon
Brandon,
Wonderful Japanese whisky flavor profile. Starts with a wonderful nose full of smoke, spice, vanilla, floral notes. Taste is smokey, creamy caramel and vanilla, some oak. Finish is nice, smokey, creamy, spicy. Can't tell at all it's a high proof, very smooth. Drop in an ice cube to transform the flavor a lot. Great for the price, IMO.
 
Danny
Danny,
Excellent whiskey
 
Danny
Danny,
Excellent whiskey
 
Angel
Angel,
Wonderful blend and presented magnificently at 51.4%. Price is a bit much but I think worth it in the end.
 
Kirk
Kirk,
Very light with a smoky after taste, really can't tell its a high proof. Add a few cubes to really open it up
 
Ivan
Ivan,
Delicious. From the neck pour it was like a stronger yoichi with more malt and salt. after letting ti rest, it's sweet and has some cereal, vanilla, caramel.
 
Brendan
Brendan,
A sweet Japanese whiskey that is able to handle the extra proof giving it a robust and enjoyable mouthfeel.
 
Mike
Mike,
Incredibly tasty and a solid price. It's a sweet whiskey that drinks solid on its own and mixes well.
 
François-Xavier
François-Xavier,
Amazing price / quality ratio
 
brandon
brandon,
Very scotch-ey not in love for that reason, but outside of that it is good, you should try it if you haven’t
 
Jaakko
Jaakko,
Astounding colour, deep bright gold. Nose has hints of butter, grains? Or it’s just the pancakes I had earlier. No, definitely there. Amazing first sip. Sweet, wood chips, maybe it’s the smoke? Fresh, yet some earthy tones too. This is brilliant. Port, sherry? Some sweet wine in there. Has a bite to it, like chili? Maybe it’s the higher than normal alcohol content? Pleasant lasting tingle. The wood lingers for a good while in the mouth. I enjoy this to bits. Edit: tried adding an ice cube at the end as some reciewers suggested, but that basically just ruined this one for me. Can’t taste anything but the alcohol anymore. Could be drinking vodka. Good to know.
 
Weiyi
Weiyi,
So damn fine. To tell the truth, I was looking for this bottle and found that Flaviar has the best pricing for it overall. Most places that sell the 500ml bottle is ridiculously overpriced (usually $100+ for 500ml), so I thought just to try this bottle, I shall try Flaviar membership. Both have exceeded my expectations. I understand people saying that Nikka has all the hype, but, I must say that all the hype does not take away the fact that this is a magical bottle of liquor. It is smooth and gentle to the tongue, and also a little bit stronger, more flavorful, and a bit sweeter - not sweet sweet, flavorful sweet - than the Hibiki that I used to go to as a default. Highly recommend.
Matt
Matt,
This is one of the best. Gave it a 10 as well.
Mason
Mason,
I bought this bottle randomly sheet just getting into whisky/bourbon/scotch and fell in love. Finding it at this price on Flaviar I bought a second bottle lmao - I thought the whole point of this membership was to try new things?
Adam
Adam,
This is by far the best whiskey I have managed to try thus far. I get a little bit of smoke on the front end seems to dissipate and then blends into caramel candies, vanilla cake, citrus flavors, clove, and baking spices. There is a long finish, but it feels smooth and has a soft burn that I really enjoy. Highly recommend if you can find it. Im buying out my local shop
 
Thomas
Thomas,
One of my favorites (this and Hibiki Harmony are the only whiskies that I have more 6 bottles of on hand). Powerful (high proof for a Japanese) and rich so great on a cube with amazing flavors.
 
Robert
Robert,
Caramel. Honey. Rich. Full.
 
Andreous
Andreous,
What a great expression, this was a referral from one of the stores I love to visit in the Atlanta area. With this expression it was much more then I expected from a Japanese Whisky. This is o e you have to try it for yourself. Cheers
 
Edouard
Edouard,
Very vert very good aromatic Japanese Whisky. A must have.
 
Brian
Brian,
Just wow!
 
Gregory
Gregory,
Smells sweet, no nostril burn to speak of. The taste is caramel with apple and vanilla. A hint of smoke and spiciness (cinnamon?) in the finish - which lingers. Ice really opened up the flavor. Its complex and pretty well rounded. I can drink a strong barrel strength bourbon and it doesn't come off as strong neat as this does (which is odd because its only 102 proof). With ice, this is a ten. Without, its a 6 for me.
 
Matt
Matt,
If you don't like this stuff, whisky may just not be your thing. Easily a perfect ten - incredible balance, richness, depth, complexity, smoothness in spite of the ABV. The palate is rich with caramel, oak, some light vanilla, and what tastes like a hint of heathery peat (think Highland Park, not Islay.) Finish lingers for many minutes and evolves into more vanilla and richer honey and light fruit notes. Delicious. An incredible showcase of Japanese blending expertise.
 
John
John,
Smooth.
 
Patrick
Patrick,
Very good, though I prefer the Coffey Grain over this one despite all the hype.
 
JOSH
JOSH,
Perfection. Reminds me of what the ideal speyside should strive to be.
 
Rene
Rene,
Absolutely beautiful.
 
Jason
Jason,
Extremely complex flavor profile
 
Liz
Liz,
Really hit me with the metallic smokiness at first sip then blossomed into a vanilla rich oakiness on second sip.
 
Silke
Silke,
Really special!
 
guest
guest,
Might be the most complex, full flavored, full proof Nikka whiskey yet. Big Carmel and a long ever-changing finish - Carmel to chili to floral to smoke. Wow, what a winner!
 
Kevin
Kevin,
What a whskey? Full of flavor, complexity and detail. It calls out for the whiskey equivalent of the Japanese Tea Ceremony to be invented to properly honor the occasion of having a glass of this wonderful liquid. We need a "Way of Whiskey" for this stuff!
 
guest
guest,
Round Fruity Sweet
 
Sophian
Sophian,
Exquisite bang-for-the-buck blend! If you like Monkey Shoulder, this is a more flavoursome pumped up version! Chewy, round, plummy sweetness with a moderately long finish. Stock up on these!
 
Pasi
Pasi,
Got this about a month ago. The harder alcohol bites nicely but the flavor is there also to balance the drink. Only minus comes from the shape if the bottle, which is probe to leak and drip the whiskey on your hands and on the bottle, especially if the bottle is full. Good thing that the problem (fullness of the bottle) is not an issue long, because it is that good.
 
Jason
Jason,
Has a flat, metallic taste
 
guest
guest,
Dejlig blød og kan ikke få nok
 
guest
guest,
Considerable burn and more on the American whiskey scale, but interesting to say the least
 
Bryan
Bryan,
Spicy forward flavor but very sweet on the backend, this is a very flavorful whisky.
 
Randi
Randi,
Not for me never again
 
Dat
Dat,
Lots of characters, this square block of booze from the land of the rising sun! I can definitely taste the hint of peat, a little salt, and a tinge of smoke maybe? But not too strong. It was just right, not overly overpowering like Laphroaig An Cuan Mor, which basically took control of my palette and turned it upside down. I like this Nikka bottle, as the finish is quit long lasting and warm. Truly complex.
 
Gert
Gert,
It’s ok
 
Lorenzo
Lorenzo,
Amazing Japanese whisky, for the ABV this is very smooth, awesome caramel notes, nice finish. Definitely worth the money spent!
 
Daniel
Daniel,
Wow this is good. I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. Tastes like a nice smooth bourbon without losing its Japanese character. The ABV is perfect for a small piece of ice. Wonderful oak, spice, and caramel, tangy sweet finish. Excellent.
 
Michael
Michael,
powerful. had to put it on ice.
 
Jon
Jon,
Nothing bad to say about this, the best qualities of blended whiskey and scotch. Dangerously drinkable!
 
Mathias
Mathias,
good and delicious taste. Very strong chili flaver, I can easily recommend it if you are into a spicey whiskey..
 
Brendan
Brendan,
Full bodied and smooth on the back end.
 
Kelvin
Kelvin,
Powerful stuff but cut it with 20% water or have with a massive ice cube and its absolutely delicious
 
Mathias
Mathias,
Incredibly tasty, good long aftertaste. Lightly smoked, naughty and strong. I am happy to have it in my home bar.
 
Rolf
Rolf,
I love this whiskey!
 
Seth
Seth,
Perfect caramel and smoke blended in a clean finish. I couldn’t be happier with this purchase.
 
Vikram
Vikram,
Awesomely smooth with a terrific finish. Not easily available but thoroughly exciting to imbibe when it is...
 
Blaž
Blaž,
Leave it in thr glass for 10min with a drop of water and you will see why is this dram is probably the best in its range.
 
Eduardo
Eduardo,
Delicious sweet vanilla and some oak, notes of caramel, sweet citrus and a bit of spices with a smooth and long finish. Awesome whisky winner of Whisky Advocate 2018
 
Sean
Sean,
One of the best blends I have ever tasted.
 
Dustin
Dustin,
Was a little strong on the nose but could have been my mood, put an ice cube in and a splash of sugar free ginger beer and wowee, the caramel and maple popped!
 
guest
guest,
Not quite as smooth as Yamasaki, but a bit more complex. Delicious.
 
Dustin
Dustin,
Reminds me of pecans and sweet salt! Great spring sipper!
 
Rory
Rory,
Smooth but complex... different from the coffeys
 
Piotr
Piotr,
Fruit and fruit and some more fruit. There are fruit everywhere :) Strong but not heavy. Very nice.
 
guest
guest,
Awesome whisky. It starts with a surprising kick in your nose and finishes with a non ending prickling in your whole mouth. Highly recommended!
 
guest
guest,
My first Japanese whisky, perfect taste, ideal daily drink
 
Antti
Antti,
It is a very good, intense blended Japanese Whisky with a long & complex finish.
 
guest
guest,
Very smooth and easy drinking
 
Zsolt
Zsolt,
Full of flavours and has a really serious finish - a bit too blunt for my taste
 
James
James,
As most Japanese whiskies tend to be rather sharp this certainly is no exception. Sharp and hot on the throat that being said it is nice on a cold day sat by the fire! Nice to have to add to the collection, Nothing will ever compare to Irish whiskey.
 
Ros
Ros,
Wonderful flavour ,rich and very slightly smoky a lovely 'sting' to the lips as this is 51.4% , very satisfying drink .
 
guest
guest,
Appearance: gold. Spiced in aroma. Notes of wood and almond. A combination of almond, toffee and coconut and a hint of milk-chocolate in flavour. Finish: medium with fresh fruit. Overall, strong and complex. It's worthy trying.
 
Simon
Simon,
Full of flavours and very pleasant to serve to others. It almost doesn't matter what your preference is, this one is a real crowd pleaser in my experience
 
Edward
Edward,
A little too oily for me, but worth a try and a REALLY cute bottle!
 
guest
guest,
Take lots of water and enjoy :)
 
guest
guest,
My first experience with Japanese whiskey, and I was pleasantly surprised. Full bodied, rich flavours and a smokey yet gentle touch. Hontou-ni arigatou gozaimasu!
 
guest
guest,
1
 
guest
guest,
Really nice whisky to a good price :)
 
guest
guest,
Harsh but also smooth. Really rich taste, worth a try. I always keep a bottle stashed.
 
Ms
Ms,
Beware...this whiskey will and CAN sneak up on you...what remains in my bottle is set aside for that REALLY tough day... :)
 
Deja
Deja,
Smokey but smooth.
 
guest
guest,
Very good!!
 
Matthew
Matthew,
this is great!
 
guest
guest,
Drinkable but slightly harsh aftertaste
 
Collin
Collin,
Strong and powerful taste, full of aromas kicking in at the first sip. Then the flavors all come in mouth and let your palate enjoy the smoky, oily and fruity taste. it's a really good whisky with a lot of flavors, a bit too agressive (I prefer to soften it a bit with water) but the aromas in the end gives you a long oily finish that makes you want to take another sip !
 
Ronny
Ronny,
Strong character
 
guest
guest,
Great
 
Serzat
Serzat,
Fruity velvet very sophistic
 
guest
guest,
Vollmundig
 
guest
guest,
Loved it!
 
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