When you smell it, you are disappointed because it smells like alcohol, which is not a good sign, but the taste compensates you. About €50 for 500ml = ~€65 for 700ml...

High value Nikka two elements of raw undiluted whiskey from Nikka’s Yoichi factory in Hokkaido and Miyagikyo factory combined with balanced other elements from their own distillery.
Minimal addition of water then casks to age again.
Results are amazingly delicious and many factors of presence of Aroma and soft long lingering!
It is well worth trying out!

Very nice whiskey, it found its place in my cellar undoubtedly for something stronger than usual, either for a nice Old Fashioned or for something more wintery. 4 stars because I consider its price a little wrong for what it is, especially considering the 500ml. A price around 30-35 would be more appropriate.

Excellent value for money. Although it is a 50cl, it is very smooth like all good Japanese whiskies. However, the aftertaste it leaves is amazing! Oak caramel, cinnamon, and a smoky note give it strength and character. The only downside is the 500ml. With such a great taste, it disappears for fun.

Almost 50 euros for a no age statement blended whisky, no, for no reason, but where do we live. It is 50% ABV so rough, it needs (a little) water to lower the degrees, a little time to breathe. But still at this price, no, and because Japanese whiskies have completely gone out of control in terms of prices and this is somewhat accessible in comparison, this should leave us indifferent. Whatever good it has, and I wasn't impressed in tasting, in the end we have paid a fortune for it. No, we can't find exceptional 12 and 15-year-old whiskies for the same or less money.

Very good whiskey, although it has caramel color, which is slightly disappointing and unnecessary in my opinion, given that it has a high alcohol content and has not undergone cold distillation. As for friends who say that it spills easily, the solution is to touch the glass to the bottle's mouth and then start tilting the bottle. Otherwise, I think it is one of the best choices from the land of the rising sun at a relatively affordable price.

5 stars for the reason that even though it is 51.4 degrees, it is easy to drink, has the right price, and for me, who is a lover of the old fashioned, I suggest you try it. It will pleasantly surprise you!

It has the taste of a 12-year-old Scotch malt whisky. Equivalent quality and no surprises.
If you expect something more because there is hype about Japanese whiskies, you won't find it.
Of course, everyone has a different opinion, but out of the 5 people who tasted it as soon as I opened it, I was the only one who said, "Okay, it's good!"

A very pleasant and strong whiskey with a sweet aftertaste, definitely worth having in one's collection

After a lot of searching for Japanese products, this was the first one I bought to try... It didn't disappoint me at all. It may seem like a lot of 51 degrees for some people, but they don't know what they're missing... It's worth trying it.

It receives a 5/5 rating not because it is the best whiskey of all time, no... it receives it for 3 reasons:

(1) value for money: its price for what it offers in terms of taste is from fair to low, at around €38

(2) what it exactly offers: an excellent first approach to the world of Japanese whiskey, which is so good that it is difficult to find the next step at prices that you can regularly support, not just as an exception

(3) even though it has been a while since I last purchased Nikka from the Barrel, due to new adventures in Scottish islands and auctions, when I think about it, it warms me up, in a good way, the kind of warmth you want in your life (51+ degrees), honey, chocolate, confectionery citrus, for a long duration... the nose always underestimates it, mainly due to its youth, but the taste and duration stay with you and regularly remind you to search for a bottle that usually disappears in 2-3 days without hesitation or second thoughts.

I start with the content.
An incredibly tasty whiskey.
It needs a teaspoon of sweet water, I think.
No matter how I drank it, all its flavors appeared only this way.
Many flavors.
Taste-wise, at first you feel a very slight sweetness, then the fruits come and linger in the taste for quite a while.
It is definitely worth it and more.
The only negative is the packaging.
It reminds me of a large antibiotic bottle.
The cap is cheap and the previous reviewer is right that it spills.
It needs attention.
I didn't expect this from a Japanese product

I won't say much about this from the barrel. Japanese power, of course, and it's not for satisfaction. Unique flavor with barrel aromas. It takes its time from the moment you pour it into the glass, a minimum of 4-5 drops of water, and you will see all its strong elements bursting out. It's not by chance that the prices of Japanese whisky are out of this world. It's worth buying.

The whiskey is great, it has a strong taste for those who drink it straight. Don't make the mistake of adding ice, it will ruin it. Get it.

I was a bit disappointed... Maybe because I had high expectations due to its name... Very alcoholic, rough whiskey. It needs time as soon as you open the bottle and when you pour it into the glass... It needs a little bit of water to lower the alcohol content. Maybe it reminds me a little of Johnnie Red but it's on another level. At least for me, I can taste notes of dark fruits, a bit of chocolate, and a hint of berries. All of this with a hint of smoke. It is definitely not in the category of Islay smoky whiskies. It's a pretty good whiskey but not for everyone. From Nikka, I prefer the Coffey Grain

Given that Japanese whiskies have reached unimaginable prices, this particular one is value for money. Complex nose with a well-balanced body. It needs its time in the glass to breathe

Heavy whiskey with a rich smoky wood flavor and powerful sensations.
This particular one is meant to be enjoyed in only one way. It requires room temperature, half a finger of the drink, and a little bit of still water (not cold) to dilute it and bring out its aromas. If you open it and let it sit in your cupboard for a while, it becomes more mellow, but it definitely cannot be the drink you have every day. It is an experience on its own.
I don't think it has anything to do with Johnny.

The price is definitely high, but I believe it's worth it. Personally, I really liked this whiskey and I would easily recommend it. I agree with the others that the alcohol is excessive, but if you add a few drops of water and let it sit for a few minutes, it becomes much better. The nose is spicy, black pepper and a hint of orange. The taste resembles orange and dried fruits and it is quite complex. It's not easy to drink, given the alcohol percentage, but I really enjoyed it as a drink and I got used to its strength after two or three glasses

The title says it all, nikka from the barrel.
Bottled straight from the barrel at 51.4% alcohol content without filtration.
In these bottlings, with such high alcohol content, what will captivate you, and why you get it, after the nose, is the body, the power of this specific malt grain blend.
Excellent whisky, not too complex, vanilla caramel on the nose, spicy fruits on the palate, moderate aftertaste, can be enjoyed neat or with a spoonful of sweet natural mineral water if you want to soften it a bit.

From the liquor store where I have been shopping for years, they recommended it to me as an alternative to heavy, smoky ones for my palate. They described it as exceptional. I paid 42 euros and they lost me as a customer...
Harsh, almost smoky (it leaves this aftertaste), rough, difficult to drink, until I swallowed it, it was mild!
As for the aromas, the only ones I could distinguish were of burnt driftwood, what can I say, maybe I am too unsophisticated to appreciate its class.
For the same price, I would insist on the sweet 12-year-old INCHMURRIN and ANCNOC.

· Probably the best value for money there is. Exceptional fruity, vanilla, and caramel aromas as soon as you open it, which become even more intense once it's in the glass. As a first taste, you feel the alcohol, perhaps overshadowing the others, but with a few drops of cold water, you unlock all its flavors. Aromatic fruits, caramel, and spices. Strong and long-lasting aftertaste. Simply excellent!

· The only thing that requires attention is the bottle, as it doesn't have a neck and if you're inexperienced, a lot of it spills outside the glass. I recommend having a plate underneath to save the precious drops from the 500ml it offers.

One of the best blended whiskies on the market, it has nothing to envy from its Scottish counterparts in the same category. Heavy, complex, spicy, with notes of wood, vanilla, orange, and cinnamon. A drink that must be in your liquor cabinet.

Perhaps one of the best blended malt whiskeys (for this price range) available worldwide, with excellent value for money. Wonderful aromas of caramel, fruits, and spices in perfect balance, with a long aftertaste. Don't be afraid of its 51.4% alcohol content, it's not as strong as it sounds. Just let it rest in the glass for a while and enjoy responsibly. Ideally served with a large piece of ice (just like they do in Japanese bars and beyond) to slowly melt without diluting. Whatever anyone says about this whiskey is not enough!! It's hard to find anything better than this for the price.

Fantastic whiskey with intense flavors of spices, wood, dried fruits, and notes of caramel. A dream for the palate!