Japanese Style Blend.
Made by the
Yoichi distillery, the second and smaller distillery of the
Nikka Whisky Company. It was founded in 1934 by one of the two most influential men in Japanese whisky,
Masataka Taketsuru. Yoichi Distillery lies in southern Hokkaido and has three sides surrounded by mountains, a terrain similar to the one found in Scotland, where Masataka studied the art of Whisky production and returned to Japan as a master blender - with a Scottish wife to boot.
Named after Nikka’s
founder, Masataka
Taketsuru, the Taketsuru Pure Malt is a vatting of Whiskies from
both the Nikka distilleries:
Yoichi and
Miyagikyo. This includes some from
sherry casks, giving a good dose of
spice throughout. The
oak casks also come through with a subtle
sweetness from nose to finish. It is clear to see why this is an
award-winning malt. Taketsuru is a great introduction to
Japanese Whisky.