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The two new products, Single Malt Yoichi Non-peated and Single Malt Miyagikyo Peated, will be released in 2024. 90th anniversary 

The two products, “Single Malt Yoichi Non-peated” and “Single Malt Miyagikyo Peated,” will be released in 2024 and will focus on the depth of Nikka Whisky’s diverse range of raw materials and the history of whisky production by raw materials, fermentation and other production processes. 

“The first product in the “NIKKA DISCOVERY Series The exhibition focuses on the diversity and depth of whisky. The series was developed as a way to “discover” the diversity, depth, and unexpectedness of whisky. It will be marketed mainly for commercial use.

Overseas sales are planned to be centered on Europe. Unlike the smoked bottles used in the year-round products, the transparent bottles will be used in this series, and the bottle design will express the “individuality of whisky” that is hidden in the year-round products.

It will go on sale on September 28, 2021, in a limited edition of 10,000 bottles for 22,000 yen including tax.

The Bottle

The fruity aroma and the richness and presence of Yoichi malt are still present.

It’s strange that Yoichi is non-peated. Aside from this preconceived notion, the fruity aroma is followed by a sweet and savory aroma like buttered toast.
Even though it is non-peated, you can feel the powerful assertiveness of the coal-distilled malt, as is expected of Yoichi, but overall it is slightly sweet and gradually turns into a bitter aftertaste. It’s the sweetness that holds the whole thing together nicely, and it’s very different from the Yoichi I’ve had before.

In the past, limited edition products have changed their character by “different types of barrels used in the wood finish” such as 2017 Moscar Wood Finish, 2018 Manzanilla Wood Finish, and 2020 Apple Brandy Wood Finish.

This time, no finish was used, and the whisky was made with “different raw materials” to bring out the unexpected personality that was hidden while utilizing the charm of single malt Yoichi.

The label uses pale blue and fine white colors that evoke a soft taste. The use of a transparent bottle expresses a hidden and unexpected side to the whisky.

Our Take

This is a whiskey with a fruity sweetness that envelops the entire bottle, something that has never been seen in Yoichi before, while maintaining the character of Yoichi. I was surprised to see how much change was possible by changing the raw material to unpeated malt.

Please try to compare it with Yoichi NV and taste the difference.

It seems that a second batch is planned for 2022 and a third batch for 2023. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of DISCOVERY they will show us next time.

(All Images Courtesy of JPWhisky.net)

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