Nikka Archives

Nikka Yoichi Non Peated Miyagikyo Peated

Yoichi Non Peated & Miyagikyo Peated (2021)

21st May 202520th May 2025Coldorak

The Nikka Whisky Discovery range comprised a series of whiskies released over three years, from 2021 to 2023, offering fresh interpretations of Nikka’s classic expressions. Nikka launched limited editions that focused on exploring specific components of their whiskies and their aromatic impact. The first edition delved into the influence of peat, featuring a Yoichi Non Peated (unusual for this typically peated distillery) and a Miyagikyo Peated (a departure from their usual unpeated style). The second edition, released in 2022, highlighted the role of yeasts, with both Yoichi and Miyagikyo using a different ’Aromatic’ yeast for fermentation. Finally, the last release showcased grain whiskies by combining the expertise of four distilleries, including one closed for 25 years, resulting in Nikka The Grain, a blended grain whisky using various grains from these distilleries. These whiskies were launched in anticipation of Nikka’s 90th Anniversary, which happened in 2024, and was celebrated with the Nikka Nine Decades. Today, we will review the first two releases: the Yoichi Non Peated and the Miyagikyo Peated, launched on the 28th of September 2021.

Yoichi 1988

25th January 202225th January 2022Coldorak

This bottle of Yoichi 1988 is the first ever expensive whisky I ever bought. Well, I say bought, but in fact it was a gift from my girlfriend at the time, and wife now. Back in 2008, the World Whisky Awards had designated a single cask of Yoichi 1987 the best whisky in the world. So the next year, when Yoichi released its 1988 vintage, I was curious to buy one, as it was probably as good as the previous which was the best in the world, right? At the time, I had a starting interest in whisky, I had maybe half a dozen bottles, which was quite a lot compared to my friends who only drank things like Jack Daniels. But when the bottle was available at La Maison Du Whisky, it was sold for 220€ which was quite a lot for me at the time. Back in 2010, I was buying 50€ bottles, I was really not ready to put that price in a whisky. But some time later, during a nice weekend in Andorra, I discovered a fantastic off-licence in Andorra-la-Vella, that had it in stock for just 150€. Quite a price cut compared to LMDW!

Old and new Nikka Taketsuru

14th September 202014th September 2020Coldorak

The Nikka Taketsuru range is a good example of the problem Japanese whisky is facing. And I mean the true Japanese whisky, the one distilled in Japan, not the “bottle whatever and slap some Japanese kanji” fake Japanese whisky crap. As you’ve read a thousand times, there is a shortage of old Japanese whisky stocks, that is here for a long time (you can’t accelerate years, even though, and especially with 2020, you’d sometimes want to). And the demand for Japanese whisky is so high that the current production is not even enough to cover the needs. Thus, Nikka announced last year expansions for its Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries to fight shortage. But since whisky takes time to mature, the shortage will probably stay at least until 2030… And earlier this year, they sadly announced the total discontinuation of the 17, 21 and 25-year-old Nikka Taketsuru, their pure malt blend of Yoichi and Miyagikyo juices, named after the founder of the Nikka group. I won’t go into the history of Nikka and Masataka Taketsuru as I’ve briefly covered that previously on the Yoichi blind tasting I organized with friends. They also announced they would renew their NAS edition of Taketsuru, and thus today we’re going to review the old and new Nikka Taketsuru NAS, as well as the discontinued Taketsuru 21-year-old.