Yoichi

Yoichi is a Japanese distillery located on the island of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the Japanese archipelago.

It was built in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky (having cut his teeth in Scotland). Indeed, he was the founder of the company that would become Nikka.
He also wanted to bring Scotch whisky to Japan. That's why he chose Yoichi.

Firstly, there's the atmosphere, in terms of landscape and climate (close to the sea, surrounded by mountains).
Secondly, the traditional approach is preponderant: stills similar to those in Longmorn, bare heating of iron stills, local malting and peat (now abandoned)...

The distillery's first whisky appeared in 1940, and production has been maintained ever since. In addition, Yoichi has its own cooperage, working with a lot of new oak.

Last but not least, Yoichi 's range remains limited, as the distillery can be discovered through Yoichi Single Malt.

Yoichi won the "World's Best Single Malt" award at the World Whiskies Awards. Read less