Other Whisk(e)ys

Taketsuru 12 Year

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Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 Year Old Nikka Whisky
40% ABV
$60 to $70
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Malt whisky is distilled exclusively from barley malt, and is considered to be the forefather of all other types of whisky. In general, it is divided into single malt whisky (several malt whiskies from a single distillery vatted together) and pure malt whisky (malt whisky from several distilleries vatted together).

What Richard Says:
Nose: Green, as in vegetal with green apple peel, not young.
Palate: Light, and drinkable but somewhat bland.
Finish: Sharp black pepper spiciness with just a hint of the time spent in wood.
Comments: The first Nikka release to hit the U.S. a couple of years ago did not blow my socks off like the whiskies Suntory entered the market with. I find this Taketsuru to be bland and uninspiring. It’s not off putting but seem to be made more for mizuwari than straight enjoyment. For upwards of $70 for this blended malt I would recommend beating down your curiosity and spending less money on a better blended malt from Compass Box.
Rating: Average

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Nikka Coffey Grain

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Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky
45% ABV
$60 to $65
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
This Grain Whisky is distilled in a “Coffey still”, which is a very traditional and rare patent still Nikka imported from Scotland in 1963. The Coffey still produces a complex whisky with a mellow and sweet taste originating from the grain itself. Please enjoy the uniqueness of this whisky which Nikka offers to the connoisseurs.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy and floral with a sharpness that reminds me most of young bourbon all with an herbal back note.
Palate: Deliciously creamy like a lovely vanilla custard enhanced by a light caramel sweetness.
Finish: This finishes a little hotter and spicier than you would expect going through the nose and palate.
Comments: I’ve called other whiskeys “ridiculously drinkable” in the past but this sets a whole new standard. This delicious little beauty from the land of the rising sun goes down like water. A whiskey for fans of scotch, Japanese whisky, and bourbon.
Rating: Must Try

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Hakushu 12 Year

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The Hakushu Single Malt Whisky Aged 12 Years
43% ABV
$65
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
HAKUSHU: THE VARDANT JAPANESE WHISKY

From Suntory’s mountain forest distillery, nestled deep in Mt. Kaikomagatake, Hakushu is the fresh and gently smoky single malt whisky with herbal notes that is the revelation of Japanese single malts.

Straight from the untouched forests, mountains and pure waters of the Southern Japanese Alps, it is no wonder that Hakushu is a “green and fresh” whisky, praised by the most curious whisky connoisseurs and lovers of gastronomy.Its crisp and vibrant feel, unique in a single malt, enlivens and liberates your senses.

Green with herbal notes.

Color: champagne gold
Nose: basil, pine needle, green apple
Palate: sweet pear, mint, kiwi
Finish:green tea, subtle smoke

What Richard Says:
Nose: “Green” comes to mind. Green grass, green herbs, green fruits, green conifers. At the very back is just the smallest bit of peat poking around. As it opens I get orange blossom honey.
Palate: Lovely fruity sweetness with again that wisp of smoke. Sweetened lime juice, honeysuckle, and herbal tea.
Finish: Long and warm with a nutty spice.
Comments: Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever had my opinion change so much on a whiskey before. When I first had this a couple of years ago I really didn’t like it. I tried it a few times and it never took. Revisiting it recently from like stock and this one is really hitting my sweet spot. It’s a fresh and vibrate whisky with an approachable sweetness that carries just a hint of smoke. Damn, I’ve overlooked this one too long.
Rating: Stands Out

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Hibiki 17

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Hibiki Suntory Whisky 17 Years Old
43% ABV
$125
Website
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What the Blender Says:
HIBIKI: THE HARMONY OF JAPANESE NATURE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Embodying the soul of Japanese craftsmanship, this harmonious blend resounds with calm complexity and “Wa”, oneness.

“Kanzen”or complete, Hibiki is a harmonious blend of innumerous malt and grain whiskies which are meticulosly blended to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.

Seductive, blossoming and enigmatic, Hibiki celebrates an unrivaled art of blending, fine craftsmanship and a sense of luxury from the House of Suntory. From its launch, Hibiki has been embraced as the paragon of The Art of Japanese Whisky, the very product of Japanese nature and her people.

Hibiki is not only Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, but among the most prestigious and honoured whiskies in the world.

Elegant. Poised. Slowly revealing a clear yet complex equilibrium.

Color: amber
Nose: peach, apricot, melon, rose, lily, lemon leaf
Palate: toffee, black cherry, vanilla, and Mizunara (Japanese oak)
Finish: sweet, fruity, with lychee aftertaste

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy and floral with stone fruit sweetness. Pralines, dried tea leaves, and a bit of cocoa powder.
Palate: Light, rich, and exceptionally balanced. Vanilla cream, citrus zest, banana custard, and cherry turnovers.
Finish: As light and delicate on the finish as the palate. This doesn’t finish like an aged whiskey at all. It goes down ridiculously smooth.
Comments: This is probably one of the top ten most drinkable whiskeys I’ve ever had. It’s not especially complex but the balance and drinkablity are stunning. This is one of those whiskeys you need to be careful with because you could blink and be halfway through the bottle.
Rating: Must Try

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Kinnickinnic Whiskey

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Great Lakes Distillery Kinnickinnic American Whiskey
43% ABV
$45
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Kinnickinnic: [KIN-I-KUH-NIK] An Ojibwe word meaning “what is mixed”.

Our Kinnickinnic Whiskey is a blend of Straight Bourbon we have sourced from one of America’s finest distilleries and a Malt whiskey and a Rye Whiskey we produce here at Great Lakes Distillery. We bottle it at 86 proof and we don’t filter it so we can ensure ALL the very best flavor is making it into the bottle.

American Blended Whiskeys are typically a mixture of a little Whiskey and Neutral Grain Spirit (essentially vodka!). Rest assured, there is no Neutral Grain Spirit in Kinnickinnic. It’s 100% Whiskey, and possibly the only American Blended Whiskey made this way on the market.

About the name- On the south side of Milwaukee we see Kinnickinnic everywhere- there is a main street through the Bay View neighborhood and a river named for it and several businesses include it in their name. To keep it quick and simple for locals and outsiders alike, many abbreviate it “KK” in writing and conversation. Kinnickinnic is an Ojibwe word meaning a blend or mix of tobacco and other plants. (There’s a good description on the Wisconsin Historical Society site).

What does this have to do with whiskey? Well, we think there are some pretty good analogies- Bourbon is often described as having a fresh tobacco like flavor, and like those Native Americans we found blending our “tobacco” with another plant (in our case malted barley and rye) produced a truly unique and delicious spirit. In our own experiments we have also determined this whiskey which is spectacular neat or with a few ice cubes is great mixed too!

What Gary Says:
Nose: The malted barley is most prominent, vegetative and grassy with a subtle sweetness.
Palate: Light, young malt; bran cereal, a hint of corn sweetness.
Finish: Short to moderate; a bit boring.
Comments: For being a mixture of malt whisky, bourbon and rye – the malted barley component is the only one I’m really picking up on. Someone could have poured me this and told me it was a single malt whisky, and I wouldn’t have batted an eye. Not sure what the mixture is, but I wish it had more kick from the rye, and sweetness from the bourbon. I understand these smaller, craft distilleries can’t compete on price point, and I do appreciate their looking to blend other components in – but for the money I would have been disappointed.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is very corn forward. I would almost call this a Dickel if I didn’t know better.
Palate: Snickerdoodle sweetness with much less corn than the nose. Slightly astringent and a bit hot and harsh after the sweetness fades. Something that reminds me a bit of Ricola cough drops.
Finish: Hot chili pepper and fresh rubbed mint.
Comments: I’m Great Lakes praise for using actual whiskeys instead of grain neutral spirit blended with whiskey as some other bottlers have done. I also give the praise for being up front out the sourcing of their more aged component. Now that all the praise is done I have to say I find this young, harsh, and not really worth the $40+ price tag. Go grab a Buffalo Trace, Rittenhouse, Four Roses, or Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond for half the price and be much happier.
Rating: Probably Pass

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