#FlavourTectonics - Recommendation of the week 4

by Flavour Tectonics, an interest group of like minded individuals exploring the world of flavours in all kinds of drinks.

In this week’s recommendation, we are excited to introduce to you our first whisky on the list.

The Nikka Coffey Malt is a unique expression from Nikka, one of Japan’s biggest whisky producers next to Suntory. While the name suggests otherwise, there is absolutely no coffee involved in the production of this whisky. In fact, the Coffey Malt derives its name from the distillation equipment used in its production. It is distilled using continuous column stills that were invented by Aeneas Coffey and the founder of the Nikka brand, Masataka Taketsuru, valued it a lot for its ability to retain flavours and create distinct textures. Despite being distilled with 100% malted barley from a single distillery, the Coffey Malt cannot be labelled a single malt as it is not distilled from a pot still (going by whisky naming conventions).

The invention of column stills allowed grain whiskies to be distilled much more cheaply and efficient than traditional pot stills. However, the flipside is that column stills provide a purer, cleaner distillate. On the other hand, pot still distillates are typically more flavoursome and richer in congeners. The column still style of distillation is thus usually associated with cheaper, more entry-level and mass-produced grain whiskies like Jameson. A generalisation would be that the column still is favoured as a means of production for more neutral spirits like vodka.

Nevertheless, distillation through column stills imparts the Nikka Coffey Malt a character unlike any other single malt whisky out there. On the nose, it evokes aromas of maple syrup and caramel and butterscotch with a slight hint of vanilla and banana. On the palate, maple syrup once again shines through, complemented by a thick and oily mouthfeel. It is a beautifully sweet, almost breakfast-like treat and truly one of a kind. Some say that you can probably pour this over your pancakes and while we do not condone it, we certainly do not condemn it as well.