Nikka Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast Whisky

Product Description

Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast: A Whisky Built Around Fermentation Itself

Nikka Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast belongs to Nikka's Discovery Series, launched in 2021 ahead of the company's 90th anniversary to spotlight the individual stages behind Yoichi and Miyagikyo single malts. The 2022 edition turns its attention to yeast, an ingredient rarely discussed in whisky-making but genuinely essential to it. Unlike many Scottish producers who lean on a single house yeast strain, Nikka maintains and experiments with a wide range of proprietary strains, and this release exists specifically to showcase what one of them can do.

How Nikka Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast Is Made

This single malt comes from Miyagikyo, Nikka's second distillery, founded in 1969 near Sendai. It's crafted using a specific yeast strain chosen to evoke the fruity, floral character of ginjo-style sake, aged across a variety of cask types to let that fermentation-driven personality shine through. It's bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof).

Tasting Notes

Nose: Lavender and marshmallow up front, giving way to comté cheese, flowering meadow, and fruit notes of peach, pear, and apricot, with vanilla, coconut milk, and lemon meringue tart developing over time.

Palate: Refreshingly herbaceous at first, moving into a rich, brioche-like sweetness, with pear, apricot, citrus zest, and delicate spice.

Finish: Long and silky, with mentholated, gently smoky, and spicy retronasal notes giving way to subtle florals like pear blossom and lily of the valley.

Food Pairings

The peach and brioche character in Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast pairs beautifully with a soft, mild cheese like comté, a fruit tart, or a light lemon dessert. Its floral, herbal notes also complement fresh salads or delicate seafood.

Serving Suggestions

This whisky rewards a slow, attentive pour, best enjoyed neat in a tulip-shaped glass. Give it time to breathe between sips to let its full range of fruit and floral notes develop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this whisky different? It's crafted with a specific yeast strain chosen to evoke ginjo-style sake character, part of Nikka's Discovery Series exploring individual stages of whisky production.

When was this released? In 2022, as part of the Discovery Series launched in 2021 for Nikka's 90th anniversary.

What proof is this whisky? 47% ABV (94 proof).

Where is Miyagikyo made? At the Miyagikyo distillery near Sendai, Japan, founded in 1969.

Explore More

Looking for more from this innovative Japanese whisky house? Shop the full Nikka collection for Yoichi, Taketsuru, and other Miyagikyo expressions, or browse our complete Japanese Whiskey collection for more from Japan's top distilleries.

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