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2025.06.12
HOME> Whisky knowledge> Whisky brand> A thorough explanation of the types and tastes of bamboo cranes, and how to drink them!A thorough explanation of the types and tastes of bamboo cranes, and how to drink them!
2022.02.27 / Last Updated: 2024.11.29
Taketsuru is one of the popular whisky brands sold by Nikka Whisky (Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.), and currently, due to a shortage of base whisky and other factors, many of its products have been discontinued.
This whisky is a uniquely Japanese style of malt whisky known as Pure Malt, and is said to embody the ideal envisioned by the founder, Masataka Taketsuru.
Taketsuru, which reflects Nikka Whisky’s dedication to craftsmanship, is highly acclaimed and has won gold medals multiple times at international whisky competitions.
In this article, we will explain the recommended varieties of Taketsuru and their flavor profiles, as well as introduce ways to enjoy this whisky even more.
Key Points of this Article:
- Explanation of the taste of the types of bamboo cranes, including products that are sold out!
- Introducing the recommended way to drink bamboo cranes!
table of contents
About Taketsuru
Taketsuru is one of the whiskies sold by Nikka Whisky, and it belongs to a category known as Pure Malt.
It is characterized by being made exclusively from malt whisky produced at the Yoichi Distillery and Miyagikyo Distillery, both owned by Nikka Whisky.
In particular, the Miyagikyo Distillery was established with the purpose of creating whisky blended with malt from the Yoichi Distillery.。
Therefore, Yoichi Distillery's single malt Yoichi and is a single malt from the Miyagikyo Distillery Miyagikyo is regarded as a whisky with a completely contrasting flavor profile.
If you would like to learn more about all Nikka Whisky brands, including Taketsuru, please check out this article.
Introducing recommended types of Nikka Whisky and their standard prices!
Difference Between Pure Malt and Single Malt
In the first place, some people may not know the meaning of pure malt in the product name "Taketsuru Pure Malt".
The difference between single malt and pure malt is that While single malt blends only malt whisky from a single distillery, pure malt is a whisky blended exclusively from malt whiskies produced at multiple distilleries.。
For example, even among Nikka Whisky products, Single Malt Yoichi " is a single malt because it uses only malt liquor from the Yoichi Distillery, but " Taketsuru Pure Malt " uses malt whisky from both the Yoichi Distillery and Miyagikyo Distillery, making it a pure malt.
Pure Malt is a term that originated in Japan and is generally only used domestically; overseas, whiskies blended from malt whiskies produced at different distilleries are generally referred to as Blended Whisky It is classified as:
The difference between blended whisky and pure malt is that regular blended whisky, in addition to malt whisky, Grain Whisky blends in what is called grain whisky, whereas pure malt does not use any grain whisky at all.
It is difficult to understand pure malt without understanding the basics of blending, so if you want to understand it in more detail, please refer to the following article.
What is the difference between single malt and pure malt? What are the typical stocks?
What are malt and grain in whisky? An explanation of blended whisky as well.
Award
Taketsuru has received various awards at whisky competitions, so we have summarized its accolades in the table below.
| Product Name | Number of Gold Awards Awarded | Number of Silver Awards Awarded |
| Taketsuru 12 years | 2 times | 5 times |
| Taketsuru 17 years | 0 times | 5 times |
| Taketsuru 21 years | 6 times | 1 time |
| Taketsuru 25 years | 0 times | 1 time |
An internationally recognized spirits competition held in the United Kingdom, ISC (International Spirits Challenge) The number of times it has received the Gold Award and Silver Award is as above.
In particular, Taketsuru 21 has won the Gold Award six times: in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2014.
And much more. WWA (World Whiskies Awards) In Taketsuru 21 and 25 years, respectively 3 times So much so that it has won awards.
You can see from the awards that Taketsuru is appreciated not only in Japan but also around the world。
Most of the types are sold out
Taketsuru has a high reputation around the world, but unfortunately most of the products are sold out, so it is difficult to drink casually.
Currently, the Taketsuru available from Nikka Whisky is Taketsuru Pure Malt " only. (At the time of writing)
Bamboo cranes that have been sold out will not be on the market for the time being, so it is expected that the value will increase as time passes after the end of sales。
If you are interested in bamboo cranes that are sold out, you should consider purchasing them as soon as possible.
About the types of bamboo cranes and their taste
Now, I will explain the recommended types of bamboo cranes and their tastes.
- Taketsuru Pure Malt
- Taketsuru 12 years
- Taketsuru 17 years
- Taketsuru 21 years
- Taketsuru 25 years
- Taketsuru 35 years
Taketsuru Pure Malt
Image source: https://www.asahibeer.co.jp/products/whisky_brandy/nikkamaltwhisky/taketsuru/
Taketsuru Pure Malt does not indicate the age of the malt. Non-Aged Whiskey It is the easiest of the bamboo cranes to obtain.
Amidst the fresh and sweet-and-sour aroma, you can sense a smoky scent derived from peat, resulting in a fruity and light mouthfeel.
It is often described as a malt whisky that is easier to drink than blended whisky, and its relative availability also makes it a recommended choice for beginners.。
Taketsuru 12 years
Taketsuru 12 Years was once considered the standard bottle in the lineup, blending malt whiskies aged for over 12 years.
This is an easy-to-drink whisky that combines a brandy-like smoothness and gentle fruity sweetness with the robust aroma characteristic of malt.
The longer whisky is aged, the more refined its flavor becomes, The 12-year-old Taketsuru is so sophisticated that it is hard to believe that it is a 12-year-old product, and the taste is comparable to that of a 17-year-old product。
Taketsuru 17 years
Taketsuru 17 Years is a whisky blended from base whiskies aged 17 years or more, produced at Yoichi and Miyagikyo.
The aged bamboo crane has a woody aroma derived from the barrel and a mature sweetness, and the smoky aroma that can be felt in it is exquisitely balanced.
Taketsuru 17 Years, once called one of the world’s finest blended whiskies, is extremely difficult to obtain, but it is a must-try for whisky enthusiasts.。
Taketsuru 21 years
Taketsuru 21 Years is a long-aged whisky that has won the most awards among the Taketsuru lineup.
It has a ripe fruit aroma and a sweet flavor with a deep richness, and is characterized by a smooth mouthfeel.
However, the price is also very high, so if you want to taste it, it is realistic to find a bar that handles it and drink it instead of buying a bottle。
Taketsuru, which has been aged for more than 21 years, is a very difficult price to purchase a bottle for the purpose of personal drinking.
Taketsuru 25 years
Image source: https://www.nikka.com/products/isc/2019_trophy/
Taketsuru 25 Years Old, which is made using only malt liquor that is more than 25 years old, is a brand that trades at a premium price, and is a bottle of high rarity and value that makes it a target for bottle investment.
Nikka Whisky appreciates the refined flavor of Taketsuru 25 Years, where a gentle sweetness is followed by a lingering hint of peat bitterness.。
Reference retail price at the time of release JPY 70,000 However, it seems that it is now trading at several times more than the price.
Taketsuru 35 years
Image source: https://www.asahibeer.co.jp/news/2007/1015.html
Taketsuru 35 years on October 26, 2007 Limited edition of 1,200 pieces This is a blended whisky, unlike other Taketsuru pure malts, as it contains a blend of grain whisky.
This product bears the signature of Takeshi Taketsuru, who served as an advisor to Nikka Whisky, and comes with a serial number, making it highly sought after by collectors.
It is an older vintage whisky, and very few people have actually had the chance to taste it. Even though it has changed from a pure malt to a blended whisky, it is still considered Taketsuru's masterpiece, said to surpass other Taketsuru expressions in aroma, flavor, and finish.。
Recommended way to drink bamboo crane
Finally, here are some recommended ways to drink bamboo cranes.
- Straight
- Highball (whisky with sparkling water)
Straight
The best way to taste bamboo cranes is straight.
First of all, enjoy the scent, Chaser It is better to drink it little by little.
It is a way to enjoy the powerful flavor with the peaty aroma of blended Yoichi and the flavor of ripe sweet fruits of Miyagikyo to the fullest。
Highball (whisky with sparkling water)
With Taketsuru expressions of lower age (including non-age statement bottlings), you may find the alcohol bite to be strong and the whisky harder to drink.
In that case, making a highball can help mellow out the alcohol sharpness of Taketsuru.
Even when served as a highball, the flavor remains largely intact, resulting in a very easy-to-drink whisky.。
However, highballs tend to use up whisky quickly and are easy to drink, so if you try this with the expensive Taketsuru, it's best to pace yourself and avoid finishing the bottle too soon.
At Last
Even after being discontinued, Taketsuru remains a highly popular whisky, with many people hoping for its return.
The reason for its discontinuation is the shortage of Japanese whisky base stock caused by a sudden surge in demand, so there is currently no prospect for its re-release.
It is expected that the difficulty of obtaining bamboo cranes will increase as time passes after they are sold out, so if you want to try it once, we recommend that you buy a bottle or visit a bar that serves bamboo cranes as soon as possible.
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