Nikka Black Clear
Distillery: | Nikka |
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Country: | Japan |
Abv: | 37% |
Rating: |
Nikka are one of the two major distillers in Japan (the other being Suntory) and they produce a range of both premium single malts and cheaper blends.
This is Black Clear, a rather confusingly named whisky from their blended side. It's especially puzzling because it's neither black nor clear, but rather a fairly normal (if slightly pale) whisky colour.
The 'clear' in the name actually refers to the fact that this was the first Japanese whisky to use entirely unpeated malt. I confess that this surprised me a little, as I'd never really thought of Japanese whisky as being particularly peat focused.
The aroma is enticing - clean, bright with a pure ethanol punch and a slight backdrop of honey sweetness. There is something about the smell that puts me in mind of a distillery - that raw, untamed alcohol.
Watered, the sweetness is unsurprisingly lost and it becomes rather one dimensional and alcohol-led.
In the mouth, it's a little rough around the edges - a sweet start that slowly yields to a raw grain alcohol harshness, along with an unexpectedly strong alcohol heat given its low 37% ABV strength. The finish is short but nicely peppery and leaves you reaching for another sip.
Water again robs it of any character, and even destroys the ahlcohol heat - but this is bottled at such a low strength you'd be mad to dilute it anyway.
So, it's a little rough and doesn't take water well - but when I tell you that this 180 ml bottle cost me two pounds in the local 7-eleven, you might understand why I'm giving this whisky 3 stars.
It's not mind-blowing or complex, but it's not claiming to be - it's just a pleasant, drinking whisky that represents phenomenal value for money.
This review was originally published 30th October, 2013. It was last updated 1st June, 2023.