Review #73 - Nikka Yoichi
Today, we'll look at the Yoichi single malt from Nikka, a peated blend of whiskies from the Yoichi distillery. This is the basic core range version of Yoichi, not sporting an age statement or any details other than a strength of 45% ABV. According to the brand's website, the mentality behind this product was to seek a balanced flavor experience, layered (of course) with that peat smoke.
Nikka Yoichi
Japan - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 110 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 45% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 2 times over 3 months; bottles at 80% and 70% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: The peat here is mild, maybe building to a medium level at most, but generally it's a softer influence. We have some seaside salty notes to go with it, and past the smoke, the complexion of the spirit is lighter in general: lots of citrus like sweet lemon, lime, and orange; heather and a hint of green moss; slightly herbal, floral, balanced by some tartness, as well as a mild metallic note later on. There are some oak notes: buttery oak, cinnamon, white pepper, and a mild vanilla arrive. We finish with some Chardonnay, and it's generally a bit delicate.
Palate: More sweetness on the palate, and more peat, too - definitely a medium smoky experience at this point. The mouthfeel is medium as well, and overall, this is generally well balanced; lemon candies, sherbet and other fruit candy, but also salinity, buttery oak, pale oak, and a mild musty note like a cellar. There's some hay or dried grass, no real bitterness from the oak, and it's still quite light overall in complexion. Later on, it can become just slightly watery.
Finish: Medium length finish, nice and round, somewhat clean as well. Tickles of peat linger, and some earthy heather notes pop up, along with a very soft wood smoke. There is a hint of that lemon fruit still here, but it fades, and we finish with a touch of vanilla. Pretty soft and subtle.
Final Note: This is nice, almost like a very subtle medium-peat salty Islay malt, or Islay-lite. Very well balanced, pleasant, and with a few interesting flavors, but it isn't overly complex; it doesn't necessarily have a big flavor hook to draw you in, either. Still, if you're looking for a laid back, classy dram with some peat, this is a solid place to look. There is the problem of price, though - when we were reviewing this last year, it was available around $90 US, which wasn't cheap. Now, with the whisky price increases that have really ramped up due to inflation in the last couple of years, we can't find it cheaper than $110 - we're not buying it at that price.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 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: 6.52
