Miyagikyo

Nikka Yoichi Non Peated Miyagikyo Peated

Yoichi Non Peated & Miyagikyo Peated (2021)

Coldorak

The Nikka Whisky Discovery range comprised a series of whiskies released over three years, from 2021 to 2023, offering fresh interpretations of Nikka’s classic expressions. Nikka launched limited editions that focused on exploring specific components of their whiskies and their aromatic impact. The first edition delved into the influence of peat, featuring a Yoichi Non Peated (unusual for this typically peated distillery) and a Miyagikyo Peated (a departure from their usual unpeated style). The second edition, released in 2022, highlighted the role of yeasts, with both Yoichi and Miyagikyo using a different ’Aromatic’ yeast for fermentation. Finally, the last release showcased grain whiskies by combining the expertise of four distilleries, including one closed for 25 years, resulting in Nikka The Grain, a blended grain whisky using various grains from these distilleries. These whiskies were launched in anticipation of Nikka’s 90th Anniversary, which happened in 2024, and was celebrated with the Nikka Nine Decades. Today, we will review the first two releases: the Yoichi Non Peated and the Miyagikyo Peated, launched on the 28th of September 2021.

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Old and new Nikka Taketsuru NAS and 21-years-old

Old and new Nikka Taketsuru

Coldorak

The Nikka Taketsuru range is a good example of the problem Japanese whisky is facing. And I mean the true Japanese whisky, the one distilled in Japan, not the “bottle whatever and slap some Japanese kanji” fake Japanese whisky crap. As you’ve read a thousand times, there is a shortage of old Japanese whisky stocks, that is here for a long time (you can’t accelerate years, even though, and especially with 2020, you’d sometimes want to). And the demand for Japanese whisky is so high that the current production is not even enough to cover the needs. Thus, Nikka announced last year expansions for its Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries to fight shortage. But since whisky takes time to mature, the shortage will probably stay at least until 2030… And earlier this year, they sadly announced the total discontinuation of the 17, 21 and 25-year-old Nikka Taketsuru, their pure malt blend of Yoichi and Miyagikyo juices, named after the founder of the Nikka group. I won’t go into the history of Nikka and Masataka Taketsuru as I’ve briefly covered that previously on the Yoichi blind tasting I organized with friends. They also announced they would renew their NAS edition of Taketsuru, and thus today we’re going to review the old and new Nikka Taketsuru NAS, as well as the discontinued Taketsuru 21-year-old.

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