It feels a bit weird to post this snowy picture when the weather feels like May, but I couldn’t wait till next winter to share this delicious dram with you.

This Japanese blend gained lots of popularity over the years and it’s not hard to see why. It’s cheap, comes with an unorthodox packaging, is bottled at a higher strength (51.4%) and the taste does more than you would expect at this price point.

It’s a blend that’s made of (maybe hundreds of barrels of) malt and grain whiskies from Nikka’s Miyagikyo en Yoichi distilleries. We haven’t tasted many Japanese whiskies yet, but I think this would make a perfect introduction:

Very pleasant, it packs a nice fruity punch. It’s not too complex, but it goes above all expectations of a blended whisky. A good bang for your buck!