Nikka Whisky Distilling Company is located in Japan, and was created by Masataka Taketsuru, considered as the father of Japanese Whisky. He was the son of a sake brewer, and after studying chemistry at university he trained at several Scottish distilleries before returning to Japan in 1920 with his Scottish wife, Rita. After working for the company that would become Suntory (Kotobukiya Limited) and making the first Japanese whisky, he struck out on his own, setting up the Yoichi distillery and the Nikka parent company. The company also owns separate distilleries for making Shochu (spirit made by distilling a wide variety of base ingredients, the main ones being rice, barley and sweet potato) and facilities for making cider brandy and apple wine. In 2001, Nikka was purchased by Asahi Breweries.
Miyagikyo Distillery was built in 1969 as the second distillery of Nikka, to make whisky different from Yoichi. He found a foggy glen surrounded by mountains and at a junction of two clean rivers. Once he tried the water from one of the rivers, which is now the water source, he was so impressed and immediately decided to build a distillery there. The name of the river was Nikkawa river by coincidence. Miyagikyo Single Malt is described as soft and fruity. Using less peaty malt than Yoichi, this whisky is distilled in a pot still heated by indirect steam at a low temperature.
Slightly Peated