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Takamine Whiskey 8 Year
Takamine

Takamine Whiskey 8 Year

Whiskey Other Whiskey Kyushu 8 Year 40% ABV
$$$$ $100 to $300 Luxury Above average whiskey
25 reviews raw average 4.07
84 critic score out of 100

About this bottle

The whiskey is named for Jokichi Takamine, a Japanese chemist living in Illinois, who was the first to apply koji fermentation (the centuries’ old Japanese technique of using naturally-occurring grain mold to break down starches to convert into sugars) to American whiskey in the 1890s. (He is also credited with planting the original DC cherry blossoms!) Produced at Shinozaki Distillery it has a mash bill of 100% pearled 2-row barley, which is 40% koji-fermented and 60% steamed. A 2-day koji propagation is followed by a 2-stage open fermentation, then a double pot-still distillation to a proof of 86.7%. The whiskey is matured in virgin American oak and ex-bourbon casks with no added color. It is matured 8 years in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-bourbon casks, and bottled at 80 proof. Note: Packaging updated in fall 2023. (SRP $99)

How it tastes

Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.

Herbal 70
Rich 60
Tart 60
Full Bodied 60
Oily 50
Smoky 40
Fruity 40
Vanilla 40

Reviews

Showing the most detailed of 11 parsed reviews.

Spirited Away 4.3

It's been quite some time since I've had a whiskey from Japan let alone been present on this app. Anyhow, the story behind the making of this fine spirit captivated me so to speak. I needed to see what the final product tasted like. I must say I was very much impressed by the quality especially at the price point. The nose yielded cherries and an herbal essence. The taste was fairly complex with notes of apple, earth, said herbal tones, and cocoa. It was overall smooth with a playful bite that ended dry with a peppery and grains character. This is a fine daily for those dipping their toes in this category or even seasoned drinkers.

panchomenendez 4.3

Earthy, mushrooms, fungi, fruit, apples, soil, cereal, delicate, balanced. It’s light and fruity like a highland malt, but has a unique funky earthy taste that lingers. Not very hot, and goes down nicely with a short aftertaste. I’m a fan of the koji fermentation!

sun dwivedi 4.3

This whiskey will delight beginners and whisky enthusiasts both! My husband and I enjoyed the pleasent yet surprisingly mellowness on the bite and rhe burn and appreciated the subtle sweet tones

abourbonandtequilagirl 4.3

Nose: reminds me of bourbon, sweet, vanilla, caramel Taste: doesn’t taste like bourbon but it’s still delicious. Fruit driven, German rye, mild spice, followed by a nice sweetness

Aidan Takami 3.8

Easy to sip on. Strong herbal flavor up front but dies off pretty quickly. Generally unimpressed, unfortunately. Still good, but not worth the price for me.

avg15 4.0

It's definitely an interesting representation with some complexity that makes you wonder about the story behind this bottle. Very good for an 8 yr

5 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.

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