Nikka Taketsuru 21 Year Old World Blended Whisky

Connor McBride — Exceptional whisky, hard to justify the price

7/10

Let me be honest — this is a genuinely excellent dram. Rich sherry notes, candied orange peel, a wisp of incense. But at £950 I can't help comparing it to what else that money buys. I've had Taketsuru Pure Malt at a fraction of the cost that scratched a similar itch. If someone pours you a glass, savour it. If you're buying, think hard.

Tiffany Nguyen — Exceptional whisky, hard to justify the price

7/10

Let me be honest — this is a genuinely excellent dram. Rich sherry notes, candied orange peel, a wisp of incense. But at £950 I can't help comparing it to what else that money buys. I've had Taketsuru Pure Malt at a fraction of the cost that scratched a similar itch. If someone pours you a glass, savour it. If you're buying, think hard.

Devon Marsh — Exceptional whisky, hard to justify the price

7/10

Let me be honest — this is a genuinely excellent dram. Rich sherry notes, candied orange peel, a wisp of incense. But at £950 I can't help comparing it to what else that money buys. I've had Taketsuru Pure Malt at a fraction of the cost that scratched a similar itch. If someone pours you a glass, savour it. If you're buying, think hard.

Haruki Sato — Beautiful but not flawless

8/10

Picked this up at auction for a bit under retail and I'm glad I did. There's a gorgeous interplay of dark chocolate, raisin, and gentle smoke on the palate that screams quality Japanese blending. My only gripe is the finish — for a 21-year-old at this price point, I expected it to linger longer. Still, I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.

Adaobi Eze — Beautiful but not flawless

8/10

Picked this up at auction for a bit under retail and I'm glad I did. There's a gorgeous interplay of dark chocolate, raisin, and gentle smoke on the palate that screams quality Japanese blending. My only gripe is the finish — for a 21-year-old at this price point, I expected it to linger longer. Still, I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.

Camila Ortiz — Beautiful but not flawless

8/10

Picked this up at auction for a bit under retail and I'm glad I did. There's a gorgeous interplay of dark chocolate, raisin, and gentle smoke on the palate that screams quality Japanese blending. My only gripe is the finish — for a 21-year-old at this price point, I expected it to linger longer. Still, I keep coming back to it neat after dinner.

Ethan Cooper — Worth every penny for a special occasion

9/10

I saved up for this bottle and cracked it open on my 40th birthday. The nose is incredible — dried fruits, old leather, and this deep honeyed oak that just lingers. At 43% it's silky smooth neat, no water needed. Twenty-one years of ageing really shows here, and while £950 is steep, I've had pricier bottles that didn't come close.

Hannah Brooks — Worth every penny for a special occasion

9/10

I saved up for this bottle and cracked it open on my 40th birthday. The nose is incredible — dried fruits, old leather, and this deep honeyed oak that just lingers. At 43% it's silky smooth neat, no water needed. Twenty-one years of ageing really shows here, and while £950 is steep, I've had pricier bottles that didn't come close.

Carlos Mendez — Worth every penny for a special occasion

9/10

I saved up for this bottle and cracked it open on my 40th birthday. The nose is incredible — dried fruits, old leather, and this deep honeyed oak that just lingers. At 43% it's silky smooth neat, no water needed. Twenty-one years of ageing really shows here, and while £950 is steep, I've had pricier bottles that didn't come close.

Jackson Wu — The best Nikka I've ever tasted

9/10

I tried this at a whisky bar in Edinburgh and immediately understood the hype. Warm baking spices, stewed plums, and a subtle nuttiness that I haven't found in any other blend. At 43% ABV it's dangerously easy to drink for something this complex. I'd never have guessed it was a blended malt in a blind tasting — it drinks like a top-shelf single malt.

Daisy Miller — The best Nikka I've ever tasted

9/10

I tried this at a whisky bar in Edinburgh and immediately understood the hype. Warm baking spices, stewed plums, and a subtle nuttiness that I haven't found in any other blend. At 43% ABV it's dangerously easy to drink for something this complex. I'd never have guessed it was a blended malt in a blind tasting — it drinks like a top-shelf single malt.

Luna Chavez — The best Nikka I've ever tasted

9/10

I tried this at a whisky bar in Edinburgh and immediately understood the hype. Warm baking spices, stewed plums, and a subtle nuttiness that I haven't found in any other blend. At 43% ABV it's dangerously easy to drink for something this complex. I'd never have guessed it was a blended malt in a blind tasting — it drinks like a top-shelf single malt.