Review #46 - Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt
Here we have a Japanese single malt whisky - an actual Japanese whisky, distilled and aged in Japan, as far as we know. From the Miyagikyo distillery, and bottled under the Nikka umbrella, this bottle of single malt is supposedly made of a mix of unpeated and lightly peated malt, which, along with gentle indirect still heating through steam, lends to a delicate and fruity character in the distillate. That's what the brand's website claims, at least.
There are actually some other Miyagikyo single malts, less common products released by Nikka, including a peated "Nikka Discovery" Miyagikyo Single Malt (2021 limited edition, bottled at 48% ABV) and a Miyagikyo Single Malt Apple Brandy Wood Finish (2020 limited edition, bottled at 47% ABV). We're looking at the standard release, though - how will it stack up with a slightly lower ABV of 45%, as well as no clarity regarding added coloring and chill filtration?
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt
Japan - Single Malt
Price Paid: USD 92 (2021)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 110 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 45% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 13 months; bottles at 70%, 60% (blind tasting), and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Somewhat light in complexion with a bit of citrus like lime, crisp Granny Smith apple, and mild peat; it's slightly coastal as well, with just a light salt crust. There's a definite vinegar note that we found in multiple tastings, but it isn't unpleasant - more like red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. There are mellow wine notes, including tart white wine and white grape, as well as darker fruits like blackberry and raisin; a little bit of nuttiness like almonds, and some baking notes of cookies, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There are fresh greens, a slightly sweet hard candy, even a hint of margaritas at times, and overall, it's rather delicate.
Palate: Just a tiny hint of that peat again to start the palate, with a medium thickness mouthfeel, and it's a punch of flavor overall, though not overwhelming or harsh. Oils and buttery chardonnay start us off, along with light crisp notes that mimic the nose: honeyed sweetness, mild fruits like green apple and lemon, and that coastal saltiness comes back as well. Some heather or hay are next, and then it's on to wood notes: soft vanilla sugar, wood sugars, just a little bit of a tannin; later, we get more of a wood char or even a tiny dark sherry note, just something darker overall, almost hidden. It ends with that mild almond taste from the nose.
Finish: The finish is medium length, maybe medium-short; somewhat soft and subtle, with just a hint of smoke, but plenty of vanilla and honey. The heather and hay notes are still there, along with some cinnamon, and at the end, just a little bit of darker flavor like prune, or overripe strawberries.
Final Note: This is pretty nice, a more delicate and complex malt to explore. We always love that light peat smoke influence, letting us know that it's there without being overpowering. The lighter sherry cask influence is great as well - it just gives hints of those dark, syrupy flavors at times while still allowing the lighter spirit and ex-bourbon style flavors to come forward, too. Still, we have to come back to the price... yes, a lot of Japanese whisky is quite expensive, and while stocks of this category are recovering after an explosion of interest, the prices aren't quite reflecting that. With a price around $90 rising to $100, you need to be confident you'll like it. Our recommendation: try it first if you have the chance, and then decided before going for a bottle.
Our Average Rating: 7.4 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.57
