Anniversary editions may be dangerous propositions. They’ll arrive available on the market with extra pomp than substance: slap a nifty label on it, upcharge by an element of three to 5, chuckle all the best way to the shareholder steak and cigar dinner. True to Nikka kind, this fortieth anniversary launch of Nikka Whisky from the Barrel avoids the development by making a minimal change, delivering a noticeable affect: the identical mix individuals admire, however double the same old vatting time earlier than bottling.
Nikka Whisky from the Barrel Additional Marriage (fortieth Anniversary) Overview
It opens with a mixture of milk chocolate and orange on the nostril, with mango and pineapple chopping in with the addition of a drop or two of water. Fortunately, they’re saved in test by vanilla and the extra oak getting old. It’s fairly recognizable as a spinoff however delivers higher sophistication and restraint. The palate reinforces that impression. The tropical fruit from the nostril stays fixed however expands with the addition of cinnamon and charred oak, serving to to border the sweetness slightly than amplify or smother it. The prolonged vatting does its job, knitting parts collectively and smoothing out a number of the sharper edges the unique line flirts with often. The lengthy and oaky end delivers a measured bitterness from herbaceous notes, offering a refreshing distinction. Nothing right here overstays its welcome, and nothing seems like it’s attempting to impress with quantity alone.
The extent of self-discipline proven all through the decision-making course of by Nikka is compelling. They may have simply leaned into the now-predictable spectacles of higher-proof hazmat bottlings, cask finishes from an obscure area only a few individuals might find on a map, or limited-run packaging designed to make the secondary market salivate. As an alternative, Nikka opted for refinement, and the result’s one thing that seems like a pure development slightly than a commemorative memento store detour. It respects the legacy established by From the Barrel with out being tightly constrained. To their credit score, this delicate recalibration pays out dividends with out inflating sticker worth.
The consequence of those decisions additionally makes this one thing lower than revelatory. If From the Barrel has by no means been your Japanese whisky of alternative, this seemingly isn’t going to make you a convert. The core stays unchanged and, in some methods, that’s very a lot the purpose. For long-time devotees, although, the additional time in wooden contributes a layer of shine simple to understand. It’s a reminder that maturation typically isn’t about including new flavors however letting current ones flourish over time.
With age comes knowledge, and in a class as much as its eyeballs with anniversary bottlings conflating novelty for progress, Additional Marriage stands out by doing extra with much less and doing it properly. It’s considerate, well-executed and understated. Which, in its forties, feels extremely applicable.
102.8 proof.
A- / $70 (500 ml)
Nikka Whisky from the Barrel Additional Marriage (fortieth Anniversary)
USD70
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