Nikka Yoichi No Age / unpackaged / 45% / 0.7l

In 1934, after parting ways with his mentor and business partner Shinjiro Torii, Masataka Taketsuru began building a distillery in the town of Yoichi on the island of Hokkaido.

Masataka chose Hokkaido because its climate was closest to Scotland, where he learned the secrets of whisky production. Yoichi currently has six stills and produces around 2 million liters of distillate per year. In the new century, Japanese whisky has experienced an incredible popularity, which has resulted in low stocks of aged distillates, and Yoichi is no exception. In September 2015, the basic commercial offer was reduced to the version presented here without an age statement, made up of "whiskies from different vintages." The edition presented here was intended for the local market.

Aroma: mild, slightly peaty and floral, summer meadow, lemons, oranges, apples, licorice, nutmeg and a pinch of salt.

Taste : pleasantly balanced, honeydew melon, oranges, honey, vanilla, roasted nuts and almonds, allspice and a distant whiff of peat smoke.

Finish : quite long, the sweetness of tropical fruits balanced by the delicate spiciness of spices and peat smoke.