If you’re currently looking for a whisky from Japan’s Yoichi distillery, your available options are virtually limited to just one. The Yoichi Single Malt was introduced in 2016 as the sole replacement for the distillery’s entire range of age statement malts (10,12,15 & 20 year olds). Built in 1934, and located in the northern coastal town (of the same name) on the island of Hokkaido, the distillery was Nikka’s first. The located was selected by the legendary Masataka Taketsuru for its setting, which brought with it both climate and terroir features which he felt were closer to that of Scotland than any other area of Japan, and a whisky style that is inherently coastal.
Japanese whisky legend Taketsuru founded Nikka's first distillery in 1934 in the town of Yoichi on Hokkaido, Japan's second largest island. The location was originally going to be used for Yamazaki distillery - but after parting ways and forming his own company, Taketsuru returned to Yoichi and constructed the Hokkaido distillery. The site was felt to have both conditions and climate comparable to that of Scotland where Taketsuru had studied and worked in the 1920's.