Single Coffey Grain 12yo - 70th Anniversary Selection

Single Coffey Grain, second from the right

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Serge Valentin

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"Nikka 12yo '70th Anniversary' (58%, OB, Single Coffey Grain, Bottled +/- 2008)
From a 4 piece set that includes four 12 year olds (Yoichi, Miyagikyo, Coffey Grain, Blend).
Colour: Gold.
Nose: Different from the 1992. Less rounded and less ‘directly’ vanillaed but more spirity. Also has quite strange whiffs of sweat (locker room after a rugby game? ... er, not quite). Also hints of blood oranges and something like lychee liqueur (we have already noticed lychees in several Nikka blends). Ginger. It’s a little bizarre. With water: cleaner but, once again, no more complex. A lot of marzipan, just like in the 1992. More honey and putty as well as what the Berbers call ‘hamlou’ (almonds, honey and argan oil mixed together). Mouth (neat): Almost the same whisky as the 1992 when undiluted. Hard to pick out any differences, so let’s add water right away. With water: same. Sweet wood extracts… Mashed chestnuts.
Finish: Same as the 1992.
Comments: Once again, it’s very good spirit, perfectly made, but I am not into grain: too many taste the same. It’s a bit boring … I’m sorry. SGP:530 - 79 points." (Serge`s scoring system is explained on this page.)

Alcohol
Abv 58 per cent