Nikka Single Cask Malt Whisky 1989

A blank label similar to this bottling

Review by Nonjatta contributor - Serge Valentin

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"Miyagikyou 1989/2007 (60%, OB for LMdW, cask #105419, Warehouse #20)
Colour: Amber - apricot.
Nose: What strikes first is a rather marvelous smokiness. Peat of course but also exotic woods such as eucalyptus and even pine wood smoke. This big smokiness never disappears and is only complemented with whiffs of earl grey tea, orange marmalade, furniture polish, cigar box and beeswax. It is a superb nose, even at such high strength. With water: It gets both fruitier and meatier: cured ham with pineapple slices. More wax and leather as well.
Mouth (neat): Heavy, immensely concentrated, starting all on plum spirit (zwetchke – sweet purple plum) with hints of Chinese anise and cinnamon. An unusual kind of spiciness. Then gets just a tad winey but not too much. Water may be needed more than on the nose. With water: the oak comes through now, the whole losing its ‘vividness’ a bit. Actually, water did not work too well here.
Finish: Long but a little too tannic and drying.
Comments: Great nose, both when neat and reduced, and great palate when neat, but the palate gets quite disappointing when diluted. Too bad, I had the feeling this one would go over 90 points. SGP:465 - 87 points." (Serge`s scoring system is explained on this page.)