Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Old

What it is

A 21 year old blended malt from Nikka, bottled at 43% and built from Yoichi and Miyagikyo malts. Discontinued when Nikka retired its Taketsuru age statements in 2019, with the range replaced by a no age statement bottling in 2020. It won World's Best Blended Malt more than once during its run.

Where it comes from

Both named distilleries are Japanese. The Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association labelling standard arrived in 2021, after this was gone, so no bottle was ever assessed against it. Nikka has never published a retrospective composition. Given the company's later disclosures about which of its products contain whisky from outside Japan, and its ownership of Ben Nevis since 1989, it would be overreaching to declare this all Japanese, and equally overreaching to say it wasn't.

How it's made

Taketsuru blends Yoichi's heavy, peated, coal-fired malt against Miyagikyo's light, fruity, steam-distilled spirit. Twenty one years gives the sherry casks Nikka favours plenty of room. Nikka never published the cask makeup.

What to expect

Deep and sherried, with dried fruit, dark chocolate, nuts and a long finish. The peat is present but well folded in. Like most older Nikkas it rewards patience in the glass rather than a quick first sip.

How it compares

Against the 17, the 21 is richer and more concentrated but the gap is smaller than the price difference suggests, and the 17 is generally considered the smarter buy. Against the current Taketsuru Pure Malt, this is a different era of stock entirely. Against Hibiki 21, which is still made, that one has grain whisky in it and mizunara character this doesn't.