Released to commemorate 90 years since Masataka Taketsuru founded Japan’s first whisky distillery, this limited-edition Yoichi Single Malt is a bold statement from the rugged northern coast of Hokkaido. Crafted exclusively from peated malt and matured in a selection of re-charred casks, this celebratory bottling captures the smoky, muscular character that made Yoichi world-famous—elevated by age, nuance, and finesse.
Only a small number of bottles were released globally, making this a rare opportunity to own a piece of Japanese whisky history.
TASTING NOTES
Nose: Intense and maritime. Notes of charcoal smoke, briny sea spray, and dried citrus peel unfold into roasted nuts, oak spice, and a touch of medicinal peat. There’s a layered complexity with hints of leather and burnt caramel.
Palate: Full-bodied and powerful. Smoked orchard fruit, toasted oak, dark chocolate, and black pepper coat the palate. A bold peat presence is tempered by elegant wood influence and underlying sweetness from long maturation.
Finish: Long, warming, and dry. Campfire smoke, cracked spice, and umami-rich malt linger with impeccable balance.
SERVING SUGGESTION
Best enjoyed neat in a Glencairn or tulip glass to fully appreciate the peat, complexity, and subtle sweetness. A few drops of water open up its savoury core and maritime depth.
COLLECTOR’S NOTE
This 90th Anniversary Yoichi is not only a tribute to Nikka’s founding legacy but a rare snapshot of the distillery’s peated roots at a higher bottling strength. Highly limited and deeply collectible, it’s a must-have for serious Japanese whisky collectors and fans of peated single malts.