Nikka Whisky Yoichi 10 Year Japanese Whisky

Nikka Whisky Yoichi 10 Year is an age-stated expression of Nikka's founding distillery — 10 years of Yoichi's coal-fired direct distillation, Hokkaido's maritime aging environment, and peated malt character developed in full, presenting the Yoichi house style with a decade of maturation that deepens the peat integration and develops the fruit, oak, and brine complexity that shorter-aged or NAS Yoichi expressions don't fully reveal.

Yoichi was built in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru in Hokkaido specifically because its climate and maritime conditions replicated the Scottish environments he had trained in. The distillery uses direct coal-fired distillation — maintained by Nikka to this day because it produces a heavier, more complex spirit than steam heating — and the sea breeze during aging contributes the brine and maritime character that is unique to the Hokkaido coastal location. At 10 years, the peat from the malted barley has had enough time to integrate with the fruit and vanilla from oak maturation, and the maritime influence has had time to develop into something more than a simple saline note. The 45% ABV bottling delivers the full expression without excessive dilution.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Peat smoke, brine, and fruit — the full Yoichi profile with the development that 10 years of Hokkaido aging produces
• Palate: Coal-fired richness, integrated peat, maritime salt, dried fruit, and oak — more developed than NAS Yoichi with a decade of barrel contact
• Finish: Long and complex — smoke, brine, and fruit persisting in the extended close of a properly aged Yoichi

Specs

• Distillery: Yoichi Distillery, Nikka Whisky, Hokkaido, Japan (est. 1934)
• Style: Japanese Single Malt Whisky, Age Stated
• Age: 10 years
• Distillation: Direct coal-fired pot still
• ABV: 45% (90 Proof)
• Size: 750ml

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