After looking for this bottle for a long time, I was finally able to pick it up at a local grocery store. Even with a burnt tongue from cooking dinner, this whisky did not disappoint!

Nose

The initial smell I got reminded me of walking into a pattiserie in Portugal, Pasteis de Belem. There were beautiful notes of vanilla, sugar cane, and a hint of lemon. It was also reminiscent of a creme brulee, creamy, caramel, and wonderful.

Palate

My tongue was not up for the challenge, so I’ll be reviewing this one again in a couple of days. What I received in this tasting was a hint of smoke, as if you just snuffed out a campfire. Lots of vanilla and a hint of rose. I’ve found other Nikka whiskies to be extremely complex so I’m pretty disappointed in my palate tonight.

Finish

The finish was delightful, with a bit of orange. Similar notes as the palate otherwise.

Notes

I will be re-reviewing this in a couple of days because I know it has a lot more to give than what I got tonight.