Nikka
Nikka is a major Japanese group that produces many whiskies and owns Yoichi and Miyagikyo.
Nikka: Masataka Taketsuru, Yoichi and Miyagikyo
It all began with one man: Masataka Taketsuru. Born in 1894, the son of a sake producer, he joined the Settsu Shozo company. Settsu Shozo wanted to move into whisky, and Masataka Taketsuru showed promise. He left for Scotland to study chemistry. It was there that he apprenticed in distilleries and met his wife, Rita.
In 1922, this iconic whisky couple returned to crisis-hit Japan. Masataka Taketsuru left Settsu Shozo. He was then recruited by Kotobuyika (later Suntory) in 1923 to oversee the construction of Yamazaki. However, the first whisky produced, "Shirofuda", was a commercial failure.
Persevering, however, Masataka Tasketsuru left Kotobuyika. He set up his own company, Nippon Kaju Co. in 1934, and built Yoichi the same year.
While waiting for his whiskies to mature, he offered fruit juices made from Hokkaido apples.
Later, the company's first whisky was launched (in 1940). Then, in 1952, the company name was permanently changed to Nikka Whisky Distilling Company.
Rita died in 1961, but Masataka Taketsuru continued his ambitions, setting up Sendai Distillery (later renamed Miyagikyo ) in 1969.
Sadly, a decade later, it was his turn to die. Despite this, the founder's philosophy was maintained.
In 1985, the famous Nikka From The Barrel was born, then in 1989, Yoichi and Sendai (later Miyagikyo) released single malts.
Finally, in 2001, Nikka arrived in Europe to our great delight.
Nikka: single malts, blended malts, blends and more...
Today, Nikka remains omnipresent and the emblem of Japanese whisky.
Alongside the Nikka From The Barrel, Nikka 12 Years and Super Nikka Rare Old blends, you can discover the two single malts Yoichi and Miyagikyo.
There is also a range of blended malts, namely Taketsuru Pure Malt.
Finally, new products have recently arrived, such as Nikka Coffey Grain and Nikka Coffey Malt. In 2017, a Coffey Gin and a Coffey Vodka were also launched. Read less
