Some time ago, I managed to get my hands on a bottle of the Nikka Coffey Grain whisky on one of the whisky auctions. I tasted the Nikka Miyagikyo during 2014 and loved it. So to add another Japanese whisky to my collection, was for me, a great treat. My bottle was distilled during 1992 and bottled in 2007.
Nikka is a subsidiary of the Asahi brewing company. Nikka was founded in 1934 and now owns two distilleries; Miyagikyo and Yoichi. What makes this specific Japanese whisky so interesting is that it is a grain whisky.
Crafted from a mash bill mainly made up of corn with a bit of malted barley added, it’s produced in continuous distillation using a Coffey still. Nikka operates 2 Coffey stills at their Miyagikyo distillery. The Coffey still were imported from Scotland in 1963.
Related Article: Galloway Single Grain whisky
Grain whisky is cheaper and easier to produce than malt whisky. It is made in continuous column stills rather than pot stills. This allows much of the distillation process to be automated and reduces overheads.
The flavours and aromas of grain whiskies tend to be softer and lighter than those of malts whiskies. Because of this, most grain whisky is blended with malt whisky to produce blended whisky. The Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese whisky got a rating of 94,5% in the Whisky Bible.
Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese Whisky Review
The pinkish label makes this bottle stand out from the more traditional whisky bottles in my collection. This bottle is a 1992 Vintage.
COUNTRY: Japan
ABV: 57%
COLOUR: Quite a light gold colour.
NOSE: Sweet with notes of vanilla and oak mixed with cereals and spice. The Nikka Coffey Grain whisky has a complex and layered nose and has great promise.
PALATE: On the palate, this grain whisky is chewy and spicy. There are notes of Wilson Toffee, cake and coffee mingling with the spice and sweetness. The Coffey Grain is wonderfully smooth after adding a bit of water. There are hints of plump fruit, chocolate layered with caramel, coffee cake and wood.
FINISH: This Nikka finish is wonderful. It lingers for the longest time and ends in notes of spice and wood. The finish is rich and layered and perfect for this cold winters afternoon. It warms you up from the inside.
RATING: EXCELLENT
It is a beautifully smooth, rich and complex grain whisky. Probably the best grain whisky we have tasted this year. Have you tried this Japanese whisky yet? I see that this fantastic Japanese release is still available via Master of Malt.
Other interesting whiskies from Japan that I have tasted include the Nikka from the Barrel, Yamazaki 12 yo, the Suntory Chita whisky as well as the Nikka Miyagikyo.
Also Read: Balblair 2000 Vintage whisky
Paul
I tried this whisky at a tasting at Whisky Brother and absolutely loved it. Very different to many other Japanese whiskies but definitely one of my favourites. Top honours must go to Hibiki though. Love that stuff.