Nikka 1995 Coffey Grain Whisky Cask #189470

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 15 Year Old

Our final entry comes from Nikka's first distillery, Yoichi, on Hokkaido island. It was founded by Masataka Taketsuru in 1933 (I believe Miyagikyo was founded in the 1960s). Yoichi malts tend to be more robust, and a little smokier, than what comes out of Miyagikyo. Besides this 15yo, there are 10, 12, 20 and NAS standard expressions. The nose is...

Score 94/100

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 Single Malt

I opened one of my bottles and had a dram. I suspect like most whiskies what I write now will be amendable after I get further down and more air finds it way into the bottle. Thus, the following nosing/tasting are from the first dram after opening. Before Adding Water Nose: Very light peat (faint) smoke/leather (similar to Taketsuru 17yo but not...

Score 87/100