Nikka Coffey malt whisky: review, tasting notes, price and characteristics of a great Japanese spirit
The Nikka Coffey malt whisky is a spirit of rare elegance, seducing the nose with sumptuous spicy and honeyed aromas and then the palate with a soft and round flavor.
Nikka distillery is an historic Japanese brand, one of the first, and this whiskey in particular is the quintessential Japanese whiskey: the keyword is finesse.
You won’t find even a distant memory of peat or smokiness, and the spices, too, are sweet and mild, softened by notes of yellow flowers like broom and hints of honey and exotic fruits. Traces of coffee are the smokiest aromas you’ll find in this Japanese whisky.
If you are looking for a peaty and stormy whiskey, like a mythical distillate from Islay, we are light years away, but it is undeniable that this Nikka Coffey malt whisky is a very elegant product with plenty of aromatic depth.
Nikka Coffey malt whisky bouquet
The nose is gorgeous, velvety, and rich, but never smug or redundant.
Honey, flowers, a hint of rosemary, and alpine herbs sneak into a ripe, yellow, exotic fruit with spots of vanilla and cardamom. Undertone of coffee and chocolate.
Nikka Coffey malt whisky flavor
On the palate, it is warm, slightly peppery, and has an incredible roundness that invites you to sip and sip again. The structure isn’t all that great; it has a medium body, but the flavor is clear and keeps the drink exciting and enjoyable.
To summarize: perhaps slightly stylized in an intriguing image, we could say that is slightly biased towards sweet spices but undeniably fascinating.
The Coffey is simply the continuous still, patented by Aeneas Coffey in 1831.
Nikka Coffey malt whisky price
60-64 euros is not super cheap, but it is an acceptable price.
Suggested food pairings
Rabbit terrine, lasagne alla bolognese, pulled pork, chocolate cupcakes, cheesecakes, ciambella, Tiramisù and chocolate salami.