Now, don’t get me wrong, the whisky inside is very special and is of the highest quality, but it was the intricate bottle design that whisky lovers gravitated towards. Presented in a bottle in the design of a samurai warrior, complete with black and gold label and removable gold helmet topper and metal-clad armour, it’s one of the most gorgeous bottle designs I’ve ever seen. Seriously, it looks more like a sculpture you’d find in an art gallery, rather than a bottle of whisky found on an airport duty-free shelf. It’s similar in design to the original that was launched way back in 1968.  

Tasting Notes

The whisky itself is equally as impressive as the bottle it comes in, as it consists of a meticulous blend of malt and grain Nikka expressions from Pot and Coffey stills, aged in a variety of different casks. It makes a great sipper, but at the same time will also work great in a highball cocktail or with a light mixer such as ginger ale and lime.

The whisky, from both the Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries, is a no-age statement filtered dram with an ABV of 43%. It’s a gorgeous honey amber colour with a light golden hue to it. Very fitting considering the name. 

On the nose, the whisky continues to impress. Immediately you get subtle floral honey notes coupled with tart fruity aromas. As these dissipate, you get sweet vanilla, burnt caramel, toffee apple, and lightly roasted sage and thyme leaves to help balance everything out. Not particularly strong on the nose, this drop, but that’s certainly no bad thing.

On the palate, you again get a lot of notes in the taste as you did on the nose. There’s a definite honey and caramel sweetness to this dram, with light candied lavender floral undertones. The tart fruit and vanilla are once again present, this time in the form of creamy vanilla ice cream topping a freshly baked apple and cinnamon crumble. There’s a distinctly zingy citrus kick on the palate too, with an oaky, slightly nutty undertone. Everything is well balanced here, with no flavours dominating the palate. If you enjoy light and subtle flavours, you’ll be in your element with this dram. 

The finish is longer than I expected considering its relatively low ABV and subtle flavours. It’s medium in length and silky smooth with a hint of ethanol and spice in the back of the throat. Again, you get herby, floral, slightly minty undertones with a honey and toffee sweetness. There’s a great black tea tannic mouthfeel to this dram as well, making for a very pleasurable finish that will leave you craving a second sip. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, be sure to head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer. 

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.