Producer
Nikka
Nikka is a Japanese spirits producer founded by Masataka Taketsuru in 1934. With two main production sites — Yoichi (Hokkaidō) and Miyagikyo (Miyagi/Sendai) — the company produces a range of whisky (single malt, blended and grain) and products like Nikka Coffey Gin that combine traditional techniques and Japanese botanicals.
- Yoichi; Sendai (Miyagikyo) · Hokkaidō and Miyagi · Japan
- Since 1934
- 19 products
The story
Masataka Taketsuru, trained in Scotland, founded the company (then Dai Nippon Kaju) in 1934 and completed the Yoichi distillery the same year. Later, in 1969, the Miyagikyo distillery near Sendai was opened. Over the years Nikka has developed ranges of single malts, blended and grain whiskies, establishing itself as one of the historic producers of Japanese whisky.
Production philosophy
To seek authenticity in the Scottish style while adapting it to the Japanese context: balancing traditional distillation techniques and local raw materials, with attention to purity of aromas and the quality of the finished product.
Territory
Japan — production and logistics activities mainly in Yoichi (Hokkaidō) and Miyagikyo/Sendai (Miyagi prefecture).
Production method
Production combining traditional methods and continuous equipment: pot stills with direct coal-fired heating at the historic Yoichi site and Coffey continuous stills for grain; extensive use of blending and 'marriage' in warehouses to achieve the final products.
Distillation
Pot stills with direct coal heating (Yoichi) and Coffey column stills for grain whisky and some base distillates; use of continuous Coffey distillation to provide texture to the grain components.
Ageing
Aging in wooden casks with subsequent re-racking and 'marriage' in large warehouses to create blends and harmonize components.
Characteristics
- Type
- Producer
- City
- Yoichi; Sendai (Miyagikyo)
- Categories
- Japanese whisky
- single malt
- blended whisky
- gin
- grain whisky
- traditional production and blending
- Raw materials
- barley malt
- corn
- water
- Casks and ageing vessels
- ex-bourbon
- ex-sherry
- Mizunara (Japanese oak)
- Representative products
- Nikka Yoichi Single Malt
- Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt
- Nikka From The Barrel
- Nikka Coffey Grain
- Nikka Coffey Malt
- Nikka Coffey Gin
- Nikka Taketsuru (Pure Malt)
What makes it distinctive
- Founded by Masataka Taketsuru, a central figure in the history of Japanese whisky.
- Yoichi retains the historic use of coal-fired pot stills.
- Miyagikyo employs Coffey stills for grain production and offers a more 'lowland' style.
- Nikka Coffey Gin uses Japanese citrus and local spices such as sansho pepper.