Nikka Whisky has released a pair of limited edition single malts finished in apple brandy barrels: Yoichi Single Malt Whisky Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels and Miyagikyo Single Malt Whisky Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels.
Produced to commemorate the 100th wedding anniversary of Nikka’s founder Masataka Taketsuru and his wife Jessie Roberts “Rita” Cowan, who were married in 1920, the Apple Brandy Finish whiskies represent the beginning of Nikka’s story, which started with an apple orchard on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. While Mastataka waited for the first whiskies to mature, it was apples that sustained Nikka’s business in its early years. The company produced various products made from local Hokkaido apples, including apple juice, apple jelly, apple sauce, and apple wine.
In fact, Nikka was initially established in 1934 as “Dai Nippon Kaju” (The Great Japanese Juice Company) before launching the first Nikka Whisky in 1940 and officially changing the company name to Nikka Whisky in 1952. To this day, apples are often associated with Rita to pay homage to the way she supported Masataka, just as apples supported Nikka.
Yoichi Apple Brandy Finish is produced at Nikka’s first distillery in Japan’s northern island Hokkaido and is aged in various casks including new American oak and sherry casks. By comparison, the Miyagikyo Apple Brandy Finish is produced at Nikka’s second distillery Miyagikyo, located in Sendai, in the northern part of Japan’s main island. Aged in mainly new American oak, ex-Bourbon barrels, and sherry casks. Both expressions are distilled from 100% malted barley, finished in carefully selected Nikka apple brandy casks for over six months, and are non-chill filtered.
“The marriage of Masataka and Rita means a lot for us as it is the prologue of Nikka Whisky, prior to the foundation,” says Emiko Kaji, Nikka Whisky international business development manager. “For this anniversary, we came up with the idea to release something special using our assets of apple products symbolizing Rita. These whiskies showcase the elegant effects of apple brandy wood finish, in addition to the beautiful contrast between Yoichi and Miyagikyo.”
The Nikka range also includes the newly released Nikka Days, Nikka From The Barrel, Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky, Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt, Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky, and Nikka Coffey Gin and Nikka Coffey Vodka.
Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo Apple Brandy Finish whiskies will be distributed in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida, Colorado, Washington State, and Tennessee for $249.99.
