Product description
Nikka Distilling Company, part of Asahi Breweries, has been number two producer of alcoholic beverages in Japan for years.
The company owns three distilleries in Japan – Yoichi, Miyagikyo and Nishinomiya (currently closed) – and Ben Nevis in Scotland. Nikka Date was introduced in 2008 and was originally available exclusively in Miyagi prefecture. The whisky was a part of promoting Sendai-Miyagi trip campaign; it enjoys wider distribution since 2012. Nikka Date is a blend of malt and grain whiskies distilled in Coffey stills at the Miyagikyo Distillery (we are not certain if Ben Nevis is part of the recipe). The whisky is named after the feudal warlord, Date Masamune, who ruled the area around today’s Miyagi prefecture in the early Edo period.
Nose: fruity and earthy, moss and ferns, apples, ripe grapes, honeydew melon, vanilla cream, sugar cookies, and delicate oaky ad spicy notes.
Palate: sweet cereals, toffee, vanilla, honey, mocha, orange peel, peaches, white pepper, candied ginger, and oak tannins.
Finish: medium long, with notes of toasted grains, vanilla, honey, white pepper, cinnamon, pinch of salt and oak.