Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt

Miyagikyo Single Malt shows the characteristics of Nikka’s second distillery, built in 1969. The founder, Masataka Taketsuru, chose this site in the mountains of Sendai to contrast with his first distillery, Yoichi, which is located in the coastal area.

This expression replaces the previous NAS version and will represent the distillery going forward. Said to now be made with whiskies spanning various ages (hinting at the inclusion of older whiskies than the previous NAS release), with classic, delicate, floral character and primarily ex-Sherry casks used for maturation.

Nose: Full-flavoured, rich. Initially, concentrated iris notes hint at the nose's extreme intensity. It then develops aromas of malted barley, exotic fruit (banana), liquorice and camphor. Notes of burnt wood and ash progressively settle over the aromatic palette. Long after, white flowers and beeswax make an appearance.

Palate: Firm, lively. Malted barley is at the heart of the palate, coated in herbaceous, liquorice, spiced (ginger, cinnamon) and chocolate tones. Very elegant, the mid-palate also delivers plenty of energy and as it draws to a close, fresh tobacco leaves and coconut intertwine to create a natural symphony of aromas.

Finish: Long, soft. It evokes the scent of wilted roses. Fine tannins balance its tangy character (lemon, grapefruit). It lingers on notes of tobacco, spices (cardamom, ginger), toasted nuts and stewed fruits (apple, damson). The final nose reveals exotic notes (lychee).