Nikka Pure Malt White

Nikka Pure Malt White, NAS, 43 %

Nikka Pure Malt White is a blended malt from Nikka Whisky with the subtitle "Peaty & Salty".

Nikka has released both Pure Malt Black, Red and White. The difference is, as Nikka describes it:

"Black" is a pure malt whisky made primarily with the Yoichi malt, and it has a solid, bold taste. "Red," on the other hand, is made primarily with malt of the Miyagikyo distillery and has a soft, delicate flavor. "White" is a pure malt whisky made mainly with Islay, Scotland type malt and has a heavy, peaty essence.

It is available in Norway at NOK 414,90 (item number 864602) and in Sweden at SEK 560 (item number 86052). It comes in a 50 cl bottle.

Nose (21/25): Soft smoke and salt are actually the first things that comes to my mind, and I do not think it is only because of the subtitle - it really is peaty and salty. Furthermore it was fruity and earthy. I found peaches, potatoes and dried apricots. Then the smell of beach joined in with seaweed and wet sand. There was also orange zest which gave it a 'dusty' smell. A very complex and rich nose.

Taste (22/25): Immediately smooth and rich. Very sweet with a lot of caramel. Also the salt was present on the palate together with ammonia candy. As I mentioned it was very sweet. I found sweet fruits like mango and papaya.

Finish (21/25): The finish was definitely peaty and salty! Very cool. Still the taste of caramel but mixed with some spices now. White pepper and ginger.

Balance (22/25): This was a delicious, rich and complex whisky. It was very sweet on the palate, maybe a bit too sweet to get a higher score. The last time I scored this whisky (November 2013, read my husbands review from back then) I did not find it to be this rich and lovely as today. I guess either my taste has developed, or maybe the recipe has changed.

Score (86/100)

Why did I get a chance to taste this whisky again? Well, one of the Ladies brought this bottle to our latest meeting in the club announcing this would be a whisky to share outside the meetings. To be more specific it will be like this:

• One Lady has this bottle at her home until she has enjoyed a dram of it (she may share it with her husband - if she wants to...).
• Then she writes her opinion on the whisky in a lovely book that follows the whisky.
• And then pass the whisky and the book on to the next Lady.

Sounds like a lovely plan, right?

- Tone