Nikka Nikka Miyagikyo 18 Years Old Single Cask Warehouse #18 Cask: 66535 Bottled For La Maison du Whisky 1 Of 293 Bottles 62% 1996

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (91)

Colour: amber. Nose: oooh! Sure it’s strong, and sure it would kill an elephant better than Dr. Walter Palmer, but these hints of chocolate and orange blossom are perfect. There might be a little too much oak too, but hard to say at this insane strength. Only one solution… With water: huge saponification happening, never experienced it to this extend. Water creating huge soapy smells… Usually, you just need to wait… So let’s wait… zzz… (after fifteen minutes)… Good, the soap is almost gone… Almost… Well not totally gone… (after twenty minutes)… not quite yet… (after twenty five minutes)… yes, gone! Praline, bread crust, macaroons, coconut cake, litchi cake, mandarins… And very, very little smoke this time. Mouth (neat): concentrated oranges, grapefruits, some ginger, some lemon grass, and more punch than Cassius Clay. So quick… With water: perfect! Mentholated raisins, ginger cake, glazed lemon wedges, lemon grass, citron liqueur… Just fabulous, love it. The best use of water ever. Finish: very long, limey, crystal-clean, with he greatest cut ever. Almost Alsatian riesling! Comments: a wrestler that’s not easy to partner with. You need patience (and good water), but then…