Review by: dustbunna
Distillery: Miyagikyo.
Bottler: Nikka (distillery bottling).
Region: Japan (Honshū).
ABV: 45%.
Age: NAS. Bottled in 2023.
Cask type: Undisclosed but some sherry casks involved in the mix.
Price: $90 USD.
Bottle open across approx. 5 months, notes taken leisurely across that period. Bold notes taken beneath the shoulder, no significant changes as fill level dropped.
Nose: green melon, grapes, mixed berries, green apple, butterscotch.
Palate: medium-thin body ~ more green melon, fresh flowers, some oak spice, baking spices, a hint of gunpowder.
Finish: medium-long and warming ~ on floral notes and a bit of pepper.
Conclusion: This was pretty consistent all the way through. It’s not complex, but it does a couple of things very well— the green melon note in particular is very pleasant. Nikka say this uses lightly peated and unpeated malt— I don’t know if the gunpowder note I get here comes from the casks or from that twinge of peat smoke, but either way it adds a nice dimension to the sweeter profile. Very drinkable and enjoyable whisky, but at the price this goes for in the US I find myself wanting just a little bit more (as it often seems to go for me with whisky from Japan these days.)
Final Score: 82.
Scoring Legend:
- 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
- 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
- 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
- 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
- 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
- 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
- 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
- 50-59: Save it for mixing.
- 0-49: Blech.
Malt Runners 