Nikka Yoichi

Yoichi Single Malt is a range of single malt expressions from the Yoichi Distillery, Nikka's first distillery built in 1934. The founder Masataka Taketsuru chose the town of Yoichi in Hokkaido because of the similar environmental conditions to Scotland, where he learned whisky-making. Yoichi malts are described as bold and strong with refined peaty notes and smokiness brought by the traditional direct coal-fired distillation. Sea breeze from the Ishikari Bay delivers a briny hint to the whisky during maturation. This no-age-statement version was released in 2016 as a permanent product that truly captures the authentic style of Yoichi malts when all age-statements were discontinued. Vatting various malt whiskies together, this bottling expresses a delicate balance between peaty, smoky and fruity aromas.