
Yoichi Distillery, Hokkaido - Main building
Nikka Yoichi Distillery – Outline
Yoichi Distillery was founded in 1934 by the Japanese whisky legend Masataka Taketsuru who decided to leave Suntory company and Yamazaki distillery to go alone to Scotland in 1918.
He went with the purpose of studying the art of whisky making and came back with all the knowledge he needed, and amongst the most precious whisky making skills, he gave careful thought on the environment ones and these stuck in his head since day one,
The distillery must be located in a cold climate with, the precise amount of humidity, with a high-quality source of pristine water and plenty supply of herbaceous peat. Further to these, it should also be close to a local area where good barley is grown and where forests are at your doorstep to supply wood for barrel making and have the coal necessary to fire the stills.
The featured characteristics of Yoichi Single Malt such as boldness and toasty burnt flavours are unique features of this distillation.
Yoichi is located right at the north- west of Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido, facing the Japan Sea, making this area the ideal scenario for all his location requirements he had learnt in Scotland.
Once he was satisfied with all the conditions he had set up himself, Taketsuru’s first distillery was built.
Yoichi distillery is nowadays praised as the most unique distillery in Japan and given its proximity to the Sea of Japan this means its whiskies gain a natural touch of mineralisation and saltiness during the maturation process.
Having a good source of wood due to being located surrounded of plenty of forests, adds the lucky charm of uniqueness and makes it easy accessible to Japanese Mizunara Oak (read more about Mizunara) so maturing with this type of wood is one the key features of Yoichi Whiskies even still.
The traditional coal-fired distillation is hardly seen nowadays in the whisky making industry given the difficulties when controlling the temperature, so highly skilled craftsmen are required, and this traditional process has remained since the origins when Taketsuru’s initiated whisky making at Yoichi distillery.
The featured characteristics of Yoichi Single Malt such as boldness and toasty burnt flavours are unique features of this distillation, but also a power that comes from its peaty flavour
Nikka still takes pride itself in the traditional methods of distilling whisky, continuing the same methods Taketsuru used.
The Yoichi Distillery maintains many of its original stone buildings and also keeps the earth floors of the cask warehouses precisely designed to maintain a year-round humidity, appropriate for whisky maturation. The featured characteristics of Yoichi Single Malt such as boldness and toasty burnt flavours are unique features of this distillation.
YOICHI DISTILLERY – WHISKIES (not all)
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Yoichi – NAS | Yoichi 10yo | Yoichi 12yo | Yoichi 15yo |
Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt |
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Yoichi 20yo | Yoichi 20yo – 1984 | Yoichi 20yo – 1985 | Yoichi 20yo – 1986 |
Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt |
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Yoichi 20yo – 1987 | Yoichi 20yo – 1988 | Yoichi 20yo – 1989 | Yoichi 20yo – 1990 |
Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt |
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Yoichi 2019 – Limited Edition | Yoichi – Apple Brandy Wood Finish | Yoichi – Bourbon Wood Finish | Yoichi – Manzanilla Wood Finish |
Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt |
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Yoichi – Moscatel Wood Finish | Yoichi – Rum Wood Finish | Yoichi – Sherry Wood Finish | |
Single Malt | Single Malt | Single Malt |
DISTILLERY INFORMATION
Owned by | Nikka Whisky Co. Ltd |
Founded in | 1934 |
Founded by | Masataka Taketsuru |
Number of Pot Stills | 6 |
Number of Washbacks | 10 |
Material | Stainless steel |
Number of Warehouses | 27 |
Warehouse Type |
Dunnage |
Number of Staff |
25 |
Address | Kurokawacho 7-6, Yoichicho, Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture 046-0003, Japan |
Telephone | +81 0135-23-3111 |
Website |
www.nikka.com |
Social Media |
Facebook, Instagram |
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