Article first published by our partner, Japanese Whisky Dictionary. Visit them here. Find the original article here.
“Nikka Coffey Malt” is a whiskey made using Nikka Whisky’s traditional café-style continuous distillation system (café still). While grain whiskey made in café stills is generally made from corn, Nikka has been challenging to make a new flavored whiskey by distilling barley malt in café stills.
Tasting Notes
The sweetness and aroma of malt that can only be felt in a cafe style.
The sweetness and aroma of malt, a hint of vanilla, and a light malt flavor are in harmony. It is characterized by a light and smooth mouthfeel, a creamy sweetness that spreads softly, and a clean and refreshing aftertaste.
The aroma is very powerful and well-balanced, with each parameter being overwhelmingly strong, even surpassing that of Cafe Grain.
| Aroma | The aroma of this malt is particularly pronounced, with a bitterness like cocoa or coffee, and a sweet aroma of strong fruit, vanilla, and fat like cream. |
| Taste | More clove-like spice, bitterness, and a deeper sweetness than the Cafe Grain. The taste is smooth and pitter-patter. |
| Aftertaste | The aftertaste is short, light, and sweet like caramel and tropical fruits. |
| Alcohol content | 45% |
| alcohol category | Malt Whisky |
| Barrel type | oak |
| Contents | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | – |
| Suggested retail price | 6,600 yen (tax included) |
| Release date |
Launched in January 2014 as a Europe-only product |
Our Take
The aroma before drinking conveys a caramel-like scent behind the stimulation of alcohol.
When you drink it straight, the first thing you notice is a rubbery or sulfuric aroma, followed by a sweet banana-like scent. It also has a woody aroma in the back.
When you taste it, there is some alcohol pungency, but the banana-like taste and the nutty taste come from the back of the bottle.
When water is added, the aroma in the nose gives the impression of a vinegar-like stimulus.
As it rolls on the tongue, the sweet aroma becomes milder and the malt and woody notes come forward.
On the palate, as if an extension of the vinegar aroma mentioned earlier, acidity is added, giving the impression of added depth.
The sweetness and aromaticity of the malt that can only be felt because it’s café style! The amber color! Malt sweetness and aromaticity, mild barrel-aged aroma! Please try it once!
(All Images Courtesy of JPWhisky.net)
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