Nikka Yoichi Single Malt

The Nikka Yoichi is a Japanese single malt whisky from the house of Nikka, one of the two great whisky distillers from Japan. It is a no-age-statement whisky, and was relaunched in 2016 owing to its critical and commercial success among whisky enthusiasts.

The Yoichi distillery was the first Nikka Distillery, on the coast of the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido. It has been come to known favourable for its peaty and coastal character that mingle perfectly with its fruity and floral aromas and flavours.

History

The Nikka brand was established by Masataka Taketsuru, a Japanese origin chemist who developed a keen interest in the art of distilling whisky. In order to learn from the country that had become synonymous with whisky distillation, Taketsuru, who was born into a sake-brewing family, travelled to Scotland.

He sought and gained enrolment into the University of Glasgow, where he studied organic chemistry, after which he chose to attain some hands-on experience by working at two different distilleries in Scotland.

Taketsuru worked as an apprentice at the Speyside distillery of Longmorn, learning the art of distilling malt whisky, and did the same at the Bo’Ness Distillery learning how to distil grain whisky using the Coffey Still.

He brought back his experience, and his Scottish wife, Jessie Roberta ‘Rita’ Cowan to Japan, endeavouring to produce the first Japanese whisky. He helped the Kotobukiya Company, later renamed Suntory, build Yamazaki, the first ever Japanese whisky distillery.

He built the Yoichi distillery in 1934 after his contract at Kotobukiya had concluded. He chose Yoichi since he felt that it was the closest in terms of conditions in Scotland that would help him recreate the ‘spirit of the Gods’ in its true form.

Making Process

The Nikka Yoichi Single Malt is blended with single malts of a variety of ages, a good portion of which have been matured in ex-Sherry barrels that lend their subtle fruity flavours to the whisky.

It is blended with single malts of different ages in order to preserve and prolong the exhaustion of Nikka’s reserves of the aged Yoichi single malts.

Alcohol Percentage

The Nikka Yoichi Single Malt whisky carries an alcohol strength of 45% ABV, slightly higher than the standard permissible limit for whiskies in many countries around the world such as Scotland, Ireland and America.

Awards

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt has not won any major awards or medals at whisky tasting competitions.