Nikka 17 Year Old

Nikka Yoichi 15 Year Old

I’m always happy to try a new Nikka release. I’m more familiar with the Miyagikyo and Taketsuru ranges, so I was excited to give my first Yoichi a go. The 15 seems like a good place to start. Nose: Caramel, treacle, sherry, herbal notes, rich oak, red apple skin, cinnamon, dark dried fruits, with a faint smokiness. A very nice dryness. Palate:...

Score 87/100

Nikka Yoichi 12 Year Old

Nikka picked up quite some important prizes at several competition in the last decennium. The 10 Year Old was named ‘Best of the Best’ in 2001 and the 15 Year Old got a gold medal at the 2010 International Spirits Challenge. Reason enough to try another one. I tasted this Yoichi 12 Year Old H2H to the 10 Year Old. Just like its younger brother,...

Score 84/100

Nikka Yoichi 10 Year Old

Yoichi on Hokkaido is Japan’s second oldest distillery (after Yamazaki) and the brainchild of Masetaka Taketsuru. It has been producinig since 1936. It is part of the Nikka concern to which Myagikyo also belongs. This official bottling was released in 2009. Quite some fruit in the nose, but also a lot of smoke, more than on the regular 10 Year...

Score 86/100

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt

Nikka has entered the market with NAS bottlings from their two whisky distilleries. This is part two covering Yoichi. Sold in a 500ml bottle and a very cheap ¥1600. The labelling is simple yet effective with white labels with black printed Kanji and Katakana, the edge of the substrate looks torn and homely. In my opinion, Yoichi is Nikka’s rising...

Score 86/100