Nikka Taketsuru 12 Year Pure Malt

Nose - Light honeyed pears and white donut peaches (subtle), hint of fresh hay, background of fresh longan, very subtle floral. Complex, quite nice. Taste - A honey cereal-like sweetness, faint, very light gentle smokiness from the peated Yoichi component, hint of black pepper spiciness, diluted dried longan black tea. Finish - Sweetness fades fairly quickly, but leaves a taste of a drying longan black tea sweetness with a faint tail end of black pepper, pear, and floral honey. 89/100

Tried this side by side with the 12, 12 had more sherry cask influence old NAS had more bourbon cask influence. Nose: Raisins, Sakura, Hazlenuts, Dark Chocolate, Smoke, Strawberries, Gingerbread, Cranberries, Mocha, Plums Palate: Dark Chocolate, Toffee, Burnt Honey, Smoke, Plums, Espresso, Dates, Grapefruit, Vanilla, Ginger, Barbecue Glazed Ham, Almonds Finish: Walnuts, Seville Oranges, Mocha, Brown Sugar, Coconuts, Raisins, Toasted Vanilla, Prunes, Burnt Honey

If you've had Japanese malts before, like the Yamazaki or Hibiki, you'll find this quite different. It's not peaty, but does have a hint of smoke---more like charcoal. The aroma is weak, but the palette is quite strong with the floral charcoal mix. Finish is quite short. Not bad for the price, and quite different than others from Japan

It's kinda herbal, maybe a little fruit, but herbal. It's a bit sweet and oily, malty, maybe a little sherry character, but... the Yoichi in it makes itself known. It's got that Yoichi funkiness in it. Not a terribly distinct finish. It's pleasant enough, and Nikka is a lot easier to find than any of the three Suntory brands. Give it a try.

Nose of honey and pear. Palate is smokey and slightly sweet, with a nice, long finish, full of charcoal, coffee, and campfire smoke. For me, this whiskey has the perfect balance of peat. Enough to pack a punch with the smokiness, but not so much that it drowns out the other flavors.

Got this from an artisan shop in Oakland and chose to try it before the coffey. It is so good! Smooth and on nose and initial pallet, then it catches on. I love it. Definitely fits in the world of my glenlivet and glennfiddich.