Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky is a 43% ABV (86 proof) no-age-statement Japanese whisky in a 750mL bottle — a "pure malt" (blended malt) marrying the robust, peated character of Nikka's Yoichi distillery with the elegant, fruit-forward malts of Miyagikyo. Named for Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky, it is available to order online now at Del Mesa Liquor.

• Proof / ABV: 43% ABV / 86 proof
• Size: 750mL
• Aging: no age statement; blend of aged Yoichi and Miyagikyo malts
• Origin: Yoichi & Miyagikyo distilleries, Japan
• Awards: multiple World Whiskies Awards honors, including Best Blended Malt

A Tribute to the Father of Japanese Whisky

Masataka Taketsuru studied whisky-making in Scotland in the 1920s, brought the craft home to Japan, and founded Nikka in 1934. The Taketsuru Pure Malt is his successors' tribute: a precise vatting of malts from Nikka's two distilleries — Yoichi, the coastal, coal-fired, peated powerhouse of Hokkaido, and Miyagikyo, the softer, sherry-and-fruit-driven distillery in the mountains near Sendai. The result is Nikka's own description made real: gentle malt flavor, deep fruitiness, and an extremely well-balanced taste that has collected World Whiskies Awards honors year after year. Browse the Nikka Whisky collection or explore more Japanese whisky at Del Mesa Liquor.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Sherry-soaked plums and raisins, green apple, honey cereal, black pepper and a hint of barrel char, with subtle Yoichi smoke underneath.

Palate: Beautifully balanced — malt sweetness and dried fruits with coffee, milk chocolate and tobacco leaf, lingering sherried fruit and a gentle smokiness.

Finish: Smooth and lingering, with vanilla, oak, a whisper of smoke and a tinge of coffee.

How to Enjoy

Neat in a tulip glass to appreciate the Yoichi-Miyagikyo interplay, or with a splash of water to open the fruit. The 43% ABV makes it an ideal introduction to Japanese whisky — and a superb highball pour as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "pure malt" mean?
Nikka's term for a blended malt — a vatting of single malts from more than one distillery, here Yoichi and Miyagikyo. No grain whisky is included.

What is the ABV of Taketsuru Pure Malt?
43% ABV (86 proof).

Is there an age statement?
No — the current expression carries no age statement; it is a blend of carefully selected aged malts.

Has it won awards?
Yes — multiple World Whiskies Awards honors, including Best Blended Malt and category wins in its class.

The definitive introduction to Nikka's craft — order Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.