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1257 Kensington Road NW
1 (403) 283-8000 / atyourservice@kensingtonwinemarket.com
$194.99
It is back - but very limited. After being off the market for about five years, the Yoichi 10-Year-Old is once again being bottled by Nikka. Bottled at 45%, The Yoichi 10 is loved for its smooth yet peated style.
Producer Description
"Nikka Whisky’s first distillery and guardian of their tradition, Yoichi is located on the coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan.
Crafted using methods from the past, such as direct coal heating, the Yoichi single malt truly captures the authentic character of its exceptional location, with its refined coastal and peat notes."
Producer Tasting Note
Nose: Fresh and incredibly herbaceous. Hints of fruits bring softness to the first nose. The peat is very discreet, enhancing the other aromas. Allowed to breathe, rich pastry notes emerge.
Palate: Smooth, lively. The first palate is fresh and peppery. The mid-palate reveals soft and creamy pastry flavor while the subtle peat slowly fades.
Finish: Long, dry. Flavors of wetland balance the oaky aromas.
$94.99
Note: Nikka's own website notes that this bottle does not meet the criteria to be called a Japanese Whisky. The good news is that might mean it also contains Ben Nevis Single Malt, as the Ben Nevis Distillery is also owned by Nikka.
It is unusual to see single malt whisky distilled in a column (AKA continuous or Coffey) still, but here you have it and the result is superb. Formerly exclusive to KWM in Alberta, this is one hell of an interesting dram, soft, layered and very complex.
The sugar yield of malted barley compared with corn and wheat is not favourable, especially when you take the cost of malting and corn subsidies into account. So the Nikka Whisky Co. must have some other designs than simply creating bulk whisky by running barley through their Coffey stills.
$91.99
The good old days of plentiful Yoichi 15 and 20 year seem to be long gone. Even this no age statement bottling is hard to come by. We are lucky to receive just a dozen bottles twice a year. 45%.
Producer Description
"This is a single malt from the Yoichi distillery, Nikka's first distillery built in 1934. The founder Masataka Taketsuru chose Yoichi in Hokkaido because of the similar environmental conditions to Scotland, where he learned whisky making. Yoichi single malt has pleasant peaty notes and smokiness originating from the traditional direct coal-fired distillation as well as a briny hint delivered by the sea breeze during the aging process."
$92.99
This is the newly reformulated Taketsuru Pure Malt, launched in 2020, to comply with Japan's new whisky regulations. Still predominantly made from Miyagikyo, with a prominent sherry cask influence, they have upped the presence of Yoichi single malt adding additional smoke to the mix.
$194.99
This special release of Nikka Grain Whisky was made from a combination of grains distilled at a combination of distilleries - all owned by Nikka. It is bottled at 48%.
Nikka has two Single Malt Distilleries in Japan - Yoichi and Miyagikyo. It also has a few different facilities that can make grain whisky. Nikka's Miyagikyo Distillery - under its founder Masataka Taketsuru - was the first place in Japan to have a Coffey/Continuous still installed, back in 1963.
Producer Description
"Nikka The Grain is composed of old Coffey grains (corn and malted barley) and Coffey malts (100% malted barley) from the now closed Nishinomiya distillery, as well as Coffey grains and Coffey malts from Miyagikyo. The finishing touches are added by Barley Grain (malted and unmalted barley) and Barley Grain and Corn & Rye (malted barley, corn, rye), all distilled in pot stills at the Moji and Satsumatsukasa distilleries, which originally specialized in Shochu production. Each spirit was carefully selected from these four sites. Bottled at 48% ABV, Nikka The Grain reveals a creamy texture and complex palette of complementary aromas."
