Happy Whiskey Wednesday everyone. It's been almost a month since last I made one of these, time has flown like wild lately. I'm a very busy boy nowadays, and having a particularly nasty cold last week certainly prevented me from getting a proper tasting in, and I wouldn't want anything less for what I've got this time.
Hailing all the way from Japan, the Nikka Coffey Grain is produced by the Nikka Whisky house, which is notably, Suntory's main competitor in the local industry there. Oddly, the companies were both founded by the same man. Well, sort of. Masataka Taketsuru was quite the cookie, travelling to Scotland back in the early 1900's to learn a bit more about Scotch, earning a degree in Organic Chemistry and picking up an apprenticeship at Longmorn Distillery. He was able to take what he learned back home with him to Japan, helping the start up Suntory distillery as head distiller, before leaving to pursue his own ambitions. That's an EXTREMELY simplified and abridged version of the story and I definitely encourage some homework on this guy, he's a hell of a muse to learn about and a legend in the Whisky community, especially in Japan.
Now, I'm sure the name may be bringing up some suspicious or even arousal: "A whiskey that tastes like coffee?!" Oh no my friends. The Coffey Grain has a bit more involved namesake than simply being blended with bean juice. A Coffey Still is what is used to distill the whisky, and a big part of what gives the whisky it's incredibly unique, sweet profile.
- Corn Grain whisky
- Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.
- 90 proof, 45%
- Bottled & Distilled in Tokyo, Japan
- $74.99
Nose - Extremely sweet with notes of citrus, sweet spices, and subtle cinnamon. Quite flowery, and a pleasure to smell, nearly perfumed.
Palette - Gentle sting with intense variety of sweet, full bodied richness. Citrus and caramel toffee with melted sugar - this one takes you on a trip, almost like listening to "Dark Side of the Moon" for your first time. It's an experience that seems to be consistent with the higher end Japanese whiskies, and I'm really digging it.
Finish - very clean, refreshing finish that cools with a eucalyptus vibe. Oak and a flowery, earthy finale that doesn't overstay it's welcome.
Thoughts - I found the Nikka Coffey in my local liquor store and was quite ecstatic to do so, this bottle doesn't pop up often and I've been looking to get my hands on it ever since I had my last Japanese whisky, the Suntory Hibiki Harmony. These are really fantastic veshches, popping all sorts of fun, flowery, happy tastes that are sweet, full, and incredible. I wanted to try and capture this unique, loving nature in the photo, trying to get some of the reflections, neon lights, and popping colors of downtown Tokyo's night scene. I'm sure I don't even come close, but I think it turned out well, regardless. The denim in the photo, making it's second cameo in my whiskey lineups, is actually straight from Japanese denim mills; Naked & Famous's 'Japan Heritage Returns'. If you have some money in your pocket and you see this bottle staring back at you in the liquor store, pick it up. Any of the high end Japanese whiskies are sure to put a smile on your face faster than a bottle of Sake.