All Malt Nikka Whisky
Distillery: Nikka
Expression: All Malt
Category: Blended Whisky
ABV: 40%
The All Malt is unique whisky in the sense that this “blend” doesn’t contain any grain whisky at all.
It’s similar to a vatted (blended) malt with one exception: some of the malt is distilled in column stills instead of the usual pot still procedure.
What that means?
It’s 100% malt time baby.
(Perhaps that’s why they call it All Malt … duh)
Unlike many of the blended scotches at this price point you get an oily-full mouth-feel instead of some light-weight grain-y wussiness that isn’t sure what it wants to be when it grows up.
The All Malt has a lot going on and it’s a bit of a shape-shifter.
I had several “tasting sessions” before the bottle was empty and each time I was able to pick out something new.
Perhaps the neatest thing about the All Malt is that it feels like the bastard child of an Irish pot-still whiskey and a quality Scottish blend.
It begins with a mysterious nose which leads to a tobacco-smoke cloud wafting over a sea of malty waves on the palate.
There’s also musty oak flavor as if it had been aged in wood barrels crafted from the hull of an old pirate ship.
A really nostalgic whisky, reminds me of cleaning out my grandparent’s attic.
So go pour yourself a long dram and reminisce
Nikka All Malt Tasting Notes
Color: Brownish Copper
Nose: cinnamon, d0rk fruits (plum-y raisin), floral, a hint of Baileys Irish Cream
Palate: Lovely balance. sweetness, smoke, and oak all nicely represented.
Finish: A bit too short. An oak overdose up front before it smooths out.
