The Nikka Nine Decades launched to celebrate Nikka's 90th anniversary
A selection of whiskies through the decades and distilleries of the Japanese company
The Japanese company Nikka is celebrating its 90th anniversary. To mark this important stepstone, a special edition limited to a total of 4,000 units was released: The Nikka Nine Decades. 964 of these will be available in Europe from September 2024.
The Nikka Nine Decades is a combination of very different whiskies: It contains malt and grain whiskies from the 1940s to the 2020s - from nine decades, as the name reveals. They were produced in six different distilleries belonging to the Nikka empire. The batch includes the oldest malt whiskies from Yoichi and Miyagikyo and young grain from Moji and Satsumastukasa. Scottish malt from Nikka's own Ben Nevis Distillery is also included.
The Nikka Nine Decades was bottled without chill-filtration and in natural colour at 48% ABV. The decanters, which are presented together with a high-quality brochure in a mirrored box, were handcrafted using the Edo-Bori method. This is a glass carving technique originating from Tokyo, Kirsch Import informs.
Tasting notes for The Nikka Nine Decades
Nose: A luscious sweetness of apple pie and sultanas with roasted notes from the cask leads to a gentle smokiness and the nostalgic scent of antique furniture. Complex and layered flavours transport you to the warehouse where the whisky has slumbered peacefully.
Palate: Soft oak with great depth forms the base and structures the spicy cinnamon, roasted nuts and strong dark chocolate. A subtle bitterness of peat is balanced by sweet apricot jam and maple syrup, while an overall warmth gives the impression of sitting in front of a fireplace.
Finish: Gentle peat is enveloped by a full body with sweet and sour notes that bring in a pleasant bitterness in a very long finish.
Images: Nikka via Kirsch Import
