Description

Miyagikyo Single Malt shows the characteristics of Nikka’s second distillery built in 1969. The founder Masataka Taketsuru chose this site in the mountains of Sendai to contrast with his first distillery, Yoichi, which is located in the coastal area. History of Masataka Taketsuru and Nikka Whisky1894Born into a sake brewing family in Hiroshima on June 20.1916Graduated from Osaka Technical (High School) where he majored in brewing. Entered Settsu Shuzo Company in Osaka.1918Embarked for Scotland via U.S.A.1918Arrived in Scotland and enrolled at the University of Glasgow in December.1919Apprenticed at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside to learn malt whisky production.1919Apprenticed at James Calder in Bo’ness to learn Coffey grain whisky.1920Married Rita on January 8.1920Apprenticed at Hazelburn Distillery in Cambeltown to learn malt whisky production and blending.1920Returned to Japan with Rita in November.1922Left Settsu Shuzo Company since the plan to produce whisky was abandoned.1923Entered Kotobukiya Limited (Suntory) with a 10-year contract.1923Directed to build Yamazaki Distillery, the first whisky distillery in Japan, and engaged in whisky production.1934Left Kotobukiya in March.1934Established Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. on July 2.1936Yoichi Distillery started distillation.1940The first whisky “NIKKA WHISKY” launched.1949Takeshi Taketsuru, Masataka’s nephew and adopted son, entered Nikka Whisky.1952The corporate name Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. was altered to The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.1961Rita died on January 17 at the age of 64.1963The first Coffey Still was imported from Scotland and installed at Asahi Breweries’ Nishinomiya plant to produce grain whisky. (The Coffey Stills were transferred to Miyagikyo Distillery in 1999.)1966The second Coffey Still was installed.1967Kashiwa bottling plant completed.1969Miyagikyo Distillery completed in April and started distillation.1977Tochigi plant completed.1979Masataka died on August 29 at the age of 85.