Nikka Taketsura 17 Year Old

i have only had a few opportunities to try this highly regarded Whisky from Japan and always in a 'less than perfect' setting. That being said i have always been highly impressed with each tasting of Nikka (and frankly, every Japanese Whisky i have tried.). So when Master of Malt sent this from their 'Drinks by the Dram' program i have been psyched to try it.

A little back story: The Nikka distillery was opened in 1934 under the scrutinizing eye of the whisky-pilgrim Masataka Taketsuru. This 17 year old jewel is named for Nikka's founder, Taketsuru, who is commonly regarded as the father of Japanese Whisky, as a tribute. This is a vatting of single malts, at least 17 Years old, aged in sherry casks.

 Nikka Taketsuru 17
 Tasting Notes:

Nose:

Aromas of chocolate lead to dried fruit (currant, yellow plum, cherries, persimmon and fig), peach skin, old leather, tobacco, dry toffee and delicate smoke with woody caramel in the background.

Palate:

The flavors are saporous, bounteous and giving. Beginning with a gallery of dried fruit that ranges from strawberries and green cherries to guava and pineapple. It then moves to the dry roasted nuts the intricately modulate into cocoa, cinnamon, fennel, treacle and toasty oak.

Very round and very balanced for such a vast display of flavor--impressive.

Finish:

Lingering with subtle and mild restatements of the aromas and flavors focusing on oak, praline with hints of straw, flowers, cocoa and vanilla. The after taste reminds me of sumptuous chocolate taffy with delicate baking spices.

This is deliciously complex whisky.

Apart from this gorgeous Whisky i was completely impressed by this idea that Master of Malt have come up with in their 'Drinks by the Dram' program is awesome and they have an amazing selection of things to try check it out.