Tasting notes - Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

Miyagiko Distillery | Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky | Japan | $58.99* | 90 proof | 95% corn & 5% barley

Welcome back to the Whiskey Jake YouTube channel. Today, I'm going Japanese. We're going to explore Nikka's Coffey Grain Whiskey. Now the coffey does not reference the coffee as in the liquid, it's in reference to the type of still used. The coffey still, patented by an Aeneas Coffey the 1830s, is the first patented column still. Now column still's what most modern day bourbons are made on but we can talk about stills in another conversation. Today we're exploring whiskey.

So the Nikka's Coffey Grain Whiskey is 95% corn and 5% barley. It's bottled at 90 proof. There is no age statement on it, but as you can tell, it is pretty light in color. So on the nose, sweet, candy, like. There's a little caramel and toffee. Not overly complex, but smells really good. So on the taste. Kind of a buttery sweetness. Vanilla and caramel maybe. A little bit of Oak, but mostly kind of a buttery vanilla and caramel. Again, not overly complex. The finish does shift a little bit for me. It goes into kind of a earthy leather spice. It doesn't last long, that could be the 90 proof as well. But overall, it's very easy to drink. It's got a lot of flavor to it. They may be kind of straightforward that sweet vanilla caramel to a kind of a spice short finish.

But if you're looking to get into Japanese whiskey, Nikka Coffey Grain's a great one to start without breaking the bank. I think here in Texas, we picked it up for $60. But yeah, give it a shot. So be sure to tune in next week when we explore Teeling. But until then, I'd love it if you'd like the video, share it and subscribe.

Until next time, cheers.

*price may vary by region and store.