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Discovering Nikka: The Eastern Frontier
Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt
| Type | Japanese Whisky |
| Style | Single Malt |
| Region | Miyagi |
| Country | Japan |
| Distillery | Miyagikyo |
| ABV % | 45 |
| Aged | NAS |
NOTES:
Lessons in the Dram
True or false: when it comes to Single Malt whisky, the older, the better.
The answer is false. We aren’t saying that age doesn’t matter, but really, it’s all about the right balance. The younger the whisky, the more it retains the cereal flavours from the barley. The older ones have more time to draw flavours from the barrel. That said, the quality of the barrel plays an important role. Whisky aged in an over-used barrel may lack in flavour.
Description
Trust the Japanese to have excellent quality control. Nikka, the founder of Miyagikyo distillery, searched high and low for the ideal location for barrel ageing. The air has to be pure and high in humidity, much like the Cairngorms highland in Scotland. He did find such a place in Japan after three long years. It was the foothills of Miyagi prefecture, where he built the Miyagikyo distillery in 1969.
Miyagikyo distillery is one of the most advanced whisky facilities, yet it uses old Coffey stills from the 19th century—a Japanese trait that respects both progress and tradition. The Miyagikyo Single Malt is their entry whisky and honestly could be mistaken for a Speyside scotch. It is that smooth. Unlike the Scots, who use wheat, the Miyagikyo uses maize for malt, which offers a novel experience on the palate.
Awards
Tasting Notes
Sight
Light Amber
Nose
Luscious and overflowing with aromas. Captivating hearts with the flirtatious perfume of tropical fruits, beeswax, and white flowers. Hints of white smoke give it a mysterious sophistication. We wonder if there is more.
Palate
Despite its playful nose, the palate is solid. At the core is malted barley, spiced with ginger and coated in chocolate. Even in mid-palate, the elegant mix remains, then slowly eases out with fresh tobacco leaves and coconut.
Finish
Now it is soft and romantic, and doesn’t want to say goodbye. The tobacco and ginger linger on. It leaves behind wilted roses, nuts, and some exotic fruits like lychee. It’s a little sour too, with the lemon and grapefruit, but that’s soothed out with fine tannins. Awww, another one?
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Nikka Yoichi Single Malt
| Type | Japanese Whisky |
| Style | Single Malt |
| Region | Yoichi |
| Country | Japan |
| Distillery | Yoichi |
| ABV % | 45 |
| Aged | NAS |
NOTES:
Lessons In The Dram
Masataka Taketsuru was the son of a Sake producer. As a young man, he was sent to Scotland to learn the secrets of Whisky. He did … but he also learned about love. He met Rita Cowen—a Scottish lass whom he married and took back to Japan with him. He remained employed by other spirits makers for a few years, but Rita encouraged him to step out on his own. In 1934, he founded Yoichi Distillery and grows it to great success. Yoichi Distillery lies in southern Hokkaido and is surrounded on three sides surrounded by mountains, a terrain much similar to the one Taketsuru found in Scotland. Yoichi possesses its own cooperage and is particularly careful when selecting its hogshead barrels, which are made on-site using new oak.
Description
The Yoichi Distillery now produces a wide range of Whiskies, but theYoichi line still forms the heart and soul of the company. Demand for their exceptional spirits is high, and the simply named — almost Zen-like — Yoichi Single Malt is designed to help fill the need.
This fine Japanese Whisky is comprised of their signature single malt spirits from a range of ages, blended to deliver a refined dram with mellow smokiness and an almost Lowland-style fruity, almost maritime character.
Awards
Tasting Notes
Sight
Warm Gold
Nose
Full-bodied, smooth. A mellow peat softly coats the aromatic palette at first, growing more powerful with time, as smoke, soot and salty notes transcend the initial nose. The aromas then evolve towards candied citrus fruit (lemon, orange), black liquorice and spices (nutmeg, ginger), and opens up with roots and dried twig aromas. Heady and floral (carnation, iris), it grows increasingly complex.
Palate
Firm, powerful. A well-balanced attack gives equal footing to aromas of peat, smoke, spices, fresh fruit (melon, kiwi) and nuts (almond, walnut), which it delivers in spades. The mid-palate starts off with chocolate notes, but the peat soon takes the lead once again.
Finish
Long, silky. Extremely mature, it overflows with ripe fruit (pear, Mirabelle plum, apple). The peat starts taking on an herbaceous and malty character, while the salty flavours gives the finish plenty of depth and coastal freshness. The final nose offers menthol, spicy (coriander, dill) and earthy (leather, chestnuts) notes.
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Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt
| Type | Japanese Whisky |
| Style | Blended Malt |
| Region | Yoichi and Miyagikyo |
| Country | Japan |
| Distillery | Nikka |
| ABV % | 43 |
| Aged | NAS |
NOTES:
Lessons In The Dram
Made by the Yoichi distillery, the second and smaller distillery of the Nikka Whisky Company. It was founded in 1934 by one of the two most influential men in Japanese whisky, Masataka Taketsuru. Yoichi Distillery lies in southern Hokkaido and has three sides surrounded by mountains, a terrain similar to the one found in Scotland, where Masataka studied the art of Whisky production and returned to Japan as a master blender - with a Scottish wife to boot.
Description
Named after Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru, the Taketsuru Pure Malt is a vatting of Whiskies from both the Nikka distilleries: Yoichi and Miyagikyo. This includes some from sherry casks, giving a good dose of spice throughout. The oak casks also come through with a subtle sweetness from nose to finish.
Awards
Tasting Notes
Sight
Dark Amber
Nose
Grassy malt, earthy vanilla, toasted coconut and BBQ pineapple.
Palate
More vanilla, subtly floral at points. Salted butter on toasted teacakes, ripe pear and peach.
Finish
Lingering peat smoke and subtle baking spice warmth.
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