Yoichi Distillery (Nikka) Flashcards
(16 cards)
When did Taketsuru form the company that became Nikka?
-In March 1934 Masataka Taketsuru left Kotobukiya Ltd.
-On July 2nd he set up his own company Dai Nippon Raju (The Great Japan Juice Company)
-initially they made apples and sold their first apple juice in 1935
Where had Taketsuru always wanted to start a distillery and why?
-The island of Hokkaido
-Northern climate similar to Scotland
-Bought sizeable plot of land near the mouth of the Yoichi river
When was first distillation done at Yoichi?
-Got their license to produce whisky and brandy on August 26, 1936
-Whisky production started in fall of 1936
When did Dai Nippon Raju change their name to Nikka Whisky Company?
1952
What type of whisky is produced at Yoichi?
-Yoichi exclusively produces malt whisky
-all steps of the whisky making process take place in separate buildings near the main entrance
-Taketsuru wanted to make “a whisky with the taste of the wind”
Mashtun at Yoichi
Stainless Steel - rake and plough
Washbacks at Yoichi
-10 stainless steel (temperature controlled)
Stills at Yoichi
-4 wash stills - direct heated (coal)
-4 spirits stills - direct heated (coal) and indirect (steam)
-last coal fire stills in the world according to Broom
-slightly different shapes, but they all have straight heads
-all with descending lyne arms and worm tubs
How long did Yoichi malt its own barley?
Until 1974
-peat was taken from nearby Ishikari Mire
Where does Yoichi get their barley now?
-All from Scotland
-non-peated
-lightly peated (5-15ppm)
-and heavily peated (more than 20ppm)
-bulk of production is lightly peated
Where does Yoichi distillery source their water?
-from the Yoichi River
Where is Yoichi distillate matured?
-Matured on site
-Filling strength is 63% abv
-29 warehouses
Nishnomiya Distillery
-Takesuru always wanted to make blended whisky in the Scotch tradition
-Didn’t have the funds for grain distillery
-in November 1962, Asahi Bakushu (now Asahi Brewery) funded the project
-Coffey stills from Scotland
-Built on Asahi’s Nishinomiya site
-Grain whisky production began in October 1964
-by October 1998 Nishnomiya had closed
What was the first blended whisky made by Nikka with grain from Nishinomiya?
-Black Nikka released in 1965
-1st grade, 42% abv
-launched the 1000 yen war
What are the main styles of distillate made at Yoichi?
-Unpeated
-medium peated
-heavily peated
-but styles have further variations based on ferment times, combinations of brewer’s yeasts and distiller’s yeasts, cut poinits
What type of barrels are used at Yoichi?
-new oak
-ex Bourbon
-puncheons
-re-charred
-ex-Sherry
-refill casks
