Review by: Raygun

According to what I’ve read, after building Yoichi, Masataka Taketsuru made apple juice from local apples while waiting for the whisky to mature for sale. Hence the original name of the company, Dai NIppon KAju (Great Japanese Juice Company), later contracted to Nikka. Sales of the juice were slow, so the company moved into apple wine and later distilling the product for apple brandy. It’s now much better known for whisky, but still makes apple wine and brandy for the Japanese market. They sometimes use the apple brandy casks for Miyagikyo and Yoichi, too. I picked this up as part of a sample pack at Miyagikyo. Reviewed from a mini. Rested about 10 minutes.

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Distiller: Nikka, probably from Hirosaki

Bottler: Nikka

Region/style: Japanese apple brandy 

ABV: 40%

Age: Minimum of 4 years

Color: 1.6 mahogany

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Nose: Very floral, though fortunately not in a soapy way. Apple, orange, caramel. Like a good caramel apple.           

Palate: Drinks easily, as one would expect. Apple and more florals. Slighty piney, too, and some baking spice. The similarity with Calvados is apparent. Not lacking in flavor even at 40%.    

Finish: Leans more toward caramel apples, with a hint of orange. Still pretty floral. Mildly spiced, like an apple pie. Moderate oak and fairly tannic.

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Conclusion: A pleasant surprise. I sampled the apple wine at the distillery and found it unpleasantly sweet. This was much better. Compares pretty well to Calvados. I’m not always big on floral flavors, but it worked well here, and there’s plenty of apple, too. It’s a Japan-only product so I won’t be seeing it anytime soon, but if I lived in Japan I might get a bottle now and then. Nice way to transition into fall.

Score: 76

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent brandy 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.