Nikka Single Coffey Grain, 12 years, 70th Anniversary, 58% abv.

Released around 2008 in a series of 4 bottles. Coffey is basically in reference to the rype of still used in the distillation process. Coffey stills, also more commonly known as Column Stills or Continuous Stills, are essentially "large" vertical stills that can perform continuous distillation as compared to the Pot Still used for distilling malts in batches. Column Stills are usually used in the production of grain whiskies and bourbons.

Nose: initially moderate levels of vanilla which get stronger with time, those grain aromas, this becomes quite beautiful actually, a pure grain whiksy aroma, almost Kawasaki/Cambus levels.

Palate: a little dry, initial palate is light condensed milk sweet, mid palate is mostly vanilla, back palate is vanilla with some meat, alot of vanilla grain sweetness. Sounds like a vanilla bomb, it's almost a vanilla bomb, but it's not.

Finish: medium, has a good amount of vanilla, hints of wood, a dry spice.

This is very nice! I can feel all the sweet grains coming out on the nose and palate, so different from everything I've had tonight. It's definitely more meaty and has a good texture to match. Not as powerful as Kawasaki or old Cambus, but the content is there and delivers well, maybe its relatively younger than those big boys? Very tasty.

Grade: B-

Whiskyfun.com, Serge Valentin, sgp:530, 79 points

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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