Whisky Spotlight - Miyagikyo Single Malt from Nikka Distsillery

Today we have our 1st Whisky Spotlight for all of you whisky lovers visiting Kyoto. Let's talk about a fantastic Japanese whisky from Nikka Distillery called Miyagikyo Single Malt. Nikka distillery was founded in 1934 by legendary Japanese distiller Masataka Taketsuru. Taketsuru studied the art of distilling in Scotland and returned to Japan to help Suntory build the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's first commercial whisky distillery and the home of Suntory's famous Yamazaki Single Malt. In 1934 Taketsuru left Suntory and opened his own distillery on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido in a place called Yoichi. Taketsuru felt that Hokkaido was the best location to distill whisky in Japan due to its similarity to Scotland in terms of climate and landscape.

Nikka opened the Miyagikyo Distillery in 1969 near Sendai, the capitol city of Miyagi Prefecture. This distillery is set in a gorgeous natural landscape with an ample supply of pure water. While the Yoichi Single Malt aims to be a truly Scottish style whisky the Miyagikyo Single Malt has a more unique, more Japanese flavor profile. 

Tasting Notes from Nikka:

This single malt whisky features a sweet and elegant fragrance like fresh flowers, combined with a soft maltiness and a delicate, gentle and appealing mature essence derived from sherry casks.

From our tastings we picked up a delightfully chocolatey taste. The finish in the sherry casks adds a wonderful deep fruity tone. The Miyagikyo Single Malt is an excellent addition to any whisky collection.

Purchase the Miyagikyo Single Malt today at Liquor Burn Gion duty-free in Kyoto!

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