Nikka Yoichi Single Malt

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 45% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: Yes

Special Features:

Direct coal firing of the stills is central to Yoichi Single Malt. It shapes the rich, robust style of this bottling, bringing peat and smoke together with fruitiness and oak notes. The whisky is bottled at 45%.

This release carries no age statement. The bottle contains 0.7 litres and comes in gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Gentle oak notes combine with pronounced fruitiness on the nose.
• Palate: The whisky is robust on the palate. Distinct peat shapes the flavour, accompanied by subtle toasted notes.
• Finish: Sweet oak notes and gentle smoke linger on the finish.

Distillery/Bottler:

Masataka Taketsuru founded Yoichi in 1934 as Nikka's first distillery. On Hokkaido, he found the conditions he knew from Scotland: a cool climate, clear air and suitable water resources. The distillery lies at the foot of the Shakotan Peninsula, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the Sea of Japan. The Yoichi River supplies water for production, while the cool climate favours slow maturation in casks.

Yoichi uses stills with straight necks and downward-sloping lyne arms. Their direct coal firing follows the method Taketsuru had learned at Longmorn. The distillers must carefully regulate the coal supply to control the heat. This method, now rare, contributes to the heavy, flavour-rich spirit. Nikka's cask-making also has its roots here: Taketsuru brought experienced beer-barrel coopers to Yoichi, where they developed suitable whisky casks. Their expertise was later passed on to Miyagikyo and the Tochigi site.

Facts: