Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Nikka Date Blended Whisky


ABV: 43% - Whisky type: blend - Coffey malt and grain - Miyagikyo/Sendai local bottling - Age: no-age-statement


Nose: Intriguing. Fruit tingles, ripe fresh figs, pomegranate like quality, juicy fruit gum, spicy passion fruit, creamy vanillic peat, and wood spice (incense). Water emphasizes lemon in both a hot tea form as well as desert: lemon meringue pie. Initially when poured a white spirit note rolls of the surface but this quickly vanishes leaving nothing but pleasantries.

Taste: Sensational. Cereals, plain golden brown toast, Arnott's milk coffee biscuits, minerals, juicy fruit gum, lovely structured peat, creamy vanilla, and smoky grain with a sprinkle of white pepper. Water releases heather honey and oddly but welcoming Fisherman’s friends originals (anise), and moderate pickled ginger, which interplay with bitterness (dark chocolate). Great balanced blend.

Finish: Spicy juicy fruit gum, bitter chocolate, creamy peat, bitter passion fruit skins with a sprinkle of white pepper.

Comment: Lovely interplay between malt and grain - an exceptional blend. This blend that retails roughly around 3,000 yen has become my daily dram. I haven't been able to stop my self continually getting amongst it since I received it for a Christmas present, which I’m very thankful for. Interestingly the current (new version) Date, in my opinion, has much more character than some of the older Date releases (black label in 500ml bottlings). Experiment with water, in my opinion the right amount makes this blend shine (not too much - nor not too little) I'm organizing my second bottle now as we speak. For another perspective of this lovely blend take at look Dramtastic's review over at The Japanese Whisky Review.


Reviewed by Clint A

15 comments:

  1. I was wondering when someone would do a review on this. A couple months ago a frind of mine went to Sendai to see the figure skating competition and while there she picked me up a bottle of Date (at my request). This stuff is dynomite! If I could get this locally it would be my daily dram too!

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  2. Dynamite indeed, Mike. Worth chasing up another bottle. There is the option of Rakuten and/or Auc-Claude Whiskies. I dare say a few select shops may have it your way, however, having said that I haven't seen it in any of my local haunts. My bottle also came direct from Sendai, but the net seems like the definite option. I was ordering last night: 2,980 yen plus about 500 yen delivery fee. Great stuff!

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  3. Excellent notes Clint. Will post mine soon and cross reference yours for comparison.

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    1. Cheers, Brian. I look forward to seeing other notes up on this.

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  4. Thanks for reviewing this Clint. I see it around online and always wondered about it.

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    1. I recommend grabbing a bottle, Chris. Good quality for value ratio.

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  5. Where would you get some of this, Clint?
    It sounds great & cheap to boot!
    My brother lives in Yokohama, so I could get him to do some legwork for me.
    Is it only available in Sendai?

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    1. Alan, I'm sure what the situation is like in Yokohama, but I'm guessing it would be just the same as Kansai (Kobe/Osaka): hard to come across in normal retail outlets. As an indication, I did some leg work of my own around Kobe/Osaka to all the major haunts and no one stocks it including all major department stores and chain liqour shops such as Yamaya. Of course it's not a rare or limited bottling (outturn) but it does appear to be with in the local area only and attainable via net shopping. If there are any readers in Yokohama that can advise of where to buy please do sing out. In the mean time for Kansai readers - in still in the process of finding a retailer who stocks it as another alternative to net shopping.

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    2. Alan, not sure if this is of any help, but the Date can be found on Rakuten (not claudes unfortunately). As mentioned above it is not available in all my local haunts, and many retailers said it is very local. Perhaps you can get your brother to look into rakuten:

      http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/fujiwaraya-01/item/yami-30/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_02_en

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  6. Thanks for the heads up Clint. I've placed an order for a couple of bottles to be delivered to my brother in Yokohama. He'll be coming to Australia a bit later in the year, so he'll bring them with him.
    The only downside is I'll have to wait a while before I can try it!
    I really appreciate you going to the trouble of getting the information for me.
    Kanpai!

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  7. https://www.whiskyauctioneer.com/lot/024328/nikka-date-miyagikyo If someone want to buy one, this is a great auction link.

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  8. Great review Clint, bought 3 bottles online and blissfully tasting it. Only regret I didn't buy more. Highly recommended for the price point. Oh yeah, you were right, I scoured pretty much everywhere in Tokyo, non of the retail shops carry it. A real gem indeed.

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  9. A store clerk in Sendai just told me its local only. I've been checking every store that sells whiskey from Tokyo, to Hiroshima, to Kyoto, Sapporo and Sendai (in that order) is the first time I've seen it.

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  10. Nikka Date is a limited Sendai prefecture distribution product. Not for export and not even for distribution outside of Sendai. No need to search in Tokyo

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  11. If you are in Tokyo, there is a Miyagi prefecture store in Ikebukuro that carries it.

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