The Nikka Tailored, NV - 70cl
The Nikka Tailored, NV - 70cl
- 70cl
- 43%
- Spirits
- Barley
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Optimal drinking window: 2026 - 2060
About The Nikka Tailored, NV - 70cl
Nikka Whisky, founded by Masataka Taketsuru, is one of Japan’s most esteemed whisky producers. The Miyagikyo Distillery, established in 1969, is celebrated for its lighter, fruitier style of whiskies, providing a counterpoint to the robust character of Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery.
Nose: Smooth and round, the nose takes us into a fruity universe with apple, apricot and whitefleshed fruits. Strong presence of honey, as well as chocolate notes with orange candied peel aromas.
Palate: Gourmet. The mouth offers a very interesting duality. On one side, a pastry style marked by vanilla and kouglof and, on the other, the bitterness that is detected with dark chocolate and citrus zest such as tangerine and orange.
Finish: In the line of the mouth, the bitterness is counterbalanced by slightly toasted notes that reveal the coexistence of vanilla sweetness and fruity bitterness.
Tasting Notes
AppearancePale gold with bright clarity in the glass.
NoseApple and apricot up front, with a generous layer of honey pulling things in a sweeter direction. Chocolate and candied orange peel drift through underneath, giving it a distinctly patisserie character.
PalateThe sweet-bitter duality is what makes this interesting: vanilla and kouglof on one side, dark chocolate and citrus zest on the other. It doesn't quite resolve, which is the point.
FinishLightly toasted, with vanilla sweetness and fruity bitterness sitting side by side to the end.
Overall impressionA gourmet, fruit-forward blended Japanese whisky that earns its indulgence.
Food Pairings
In Japan, whisky like this is as likely to appear at the dinner table as sake, particularly in izakayas where it's served highball-style alongside grilled chicken skewers, pickled vegetables, and aged cheeses. The sweet-bitter character here works especially well with dark chocolate desserts, yuzu tarts, or a good miso-glazed black cod. If you're keeping it simple, a square of good dark chocolate and a wide glass of this over a single large ice cube is hard to argue with.
We think this wine would go well with
Serve neat at room temperature if you want to catch everything the nose is offering, or over a single large ice cube to let the bitterness integrate and the fruit open up. A wide-bowled Glencairn or whisky tumbler works well. No need to decant, but give it a minute or two in the glass before diving in.
FAQs
What does The Nikka Tailored taste like?
Think patisserie and dark chocolate in the same glass. There's apple, apricot, and honey on the nose, then a compelling sweet-bitter tug on the palate between vanilla and citrus zest. The finish is lightly toasted and lingers longer than you'd expect.
Is this a single malt or a blend?
It's a blended Japanese whisky, drawing on Nikka's two distilleries: the lighter, fruitier Miyagikyo and the more robust Yoichi. The Tailored leans into the Miyagikyo character, which is where most of that fruit and chocolate elegance comes from.
What food works well with it?
Dark chocolate is the obvious answer, but grilled meats, aged cheese, and anything with a miso or soy glaze all play well with the sweet-bitter balance here. It also makes an excellent highball alongside Japanese bar snacks if you're in that kind of mood.
How should I serve it?
Neat at room temperature is the purist's route and the best way to appreciate the nose. A large ice cube softens the bitterness nicely if you prefer something a little more relaxed. A tumbler or Glencairn glass is ideal.
OUR GROWERS
Nikka
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