Nikka, a Japanese whisky maker headquartered in Tokyo and owned by Asahi Group Holdings, has just announced two new whiskies as part of its discovery range.
In September 2021 Nikka launched its discovery with two whiskies, Yoichi Single Malt Non‐Peated and Miyagikyo Single Malt Peated. These two whiskies were launched to highlight the distillery's ability to create a new single malt with totally new and different ingredients from its usual lineup. After that successful initial release Nikka is debuting two more whiskies in the discovery range. Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast (48% ABV) and Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast (47% ABV). These two new expressions focus on yeast strains. Yeast greatly impacts the smell and taste of a whisky during the fermentation process.
“Nikka Discovery 2022 is a fruit of our vast reserve of yeast cultures and accumulated knowledge on how to use them, along with skillful blending. Our blenders took great care to enhance only good aromas and integrate them with the original style of each distillery.” ~ Nikka Whisky international business development manager Emiko Kaji
Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast
- Bottled at 48% ABV
- Not Chill-Filtered
- Master Whiskymaker: Masashi Watanuki
Opened in 1934, the Yoichi distillery is located in Yoichi, a town in the Yoichi District, Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. The Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast has some of its yeast come from a batch that has an especially fruity and flowery aroma similar to ginjyo sake, according to Nikka.
Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast
- Bottled at 47% ABV
- Not Chill-Filtered
- Master Whiskymaker: Yumi Ozaki
Opened in 1969, the Miyagikyo distillery (Originally known as "Sendai distillery") is located near Sendai, the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Tōhoku region, Japan. The Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast offers a ‘fruity’ aroma of peach and apricot.
These expressions are limited to 20,000 bottles each worldwide. They are priced at an RRP of approximately €245/$275.
This is not the final release for the discovery range, Nikka said it would continue to create and release limited editions whiskies under the Discovery series.
