Nikka's latest discoveries

“Making whisky does not happen quickly, nor is it a linear process”, explained Nikka Whisky’s brand ambassador Marcus Parmenter to guests at the Nikka 2022 Limited Edition Discovery Series tasting release, held at Bouvardia in Melbourne last Wednesday evening.

Asahi owned Nikka is the second largest whisky producer in Japan, to House of Suntory. Its latest releases in the Discovery Series are Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast and Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast. Yoichi and Miyagikyo are two separate brands - and distilleries - for the Japanese house that was established in 1940.

There are just 20,000 bottles of the Yoichi and Miyagikyo Discovery Series set for the international market. The liquids are developed from more than 100 different yeast cultures sourced from around the world, and cultivated in house.

Parmenter explained to guests that the process of yeast cultivation and understanding the final impact a culture might have on a batch of whisky, requires patience and discipline. Nikka's blenders analyse and track each spirit batch through the maturation process. These outcomes have been documented for 80 years now.

Nikka Whisky’s international business development manager Emiko Kaji says, “Nikka Discovery 2022 is the fruit of our vast reserve of yeast cultures and accumulated knowhow on how to use them, along with skillful blending. Our blenders took great care to enhance only the good aromas and integrate them with the original style of each distillery.”

The whiskies

Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast

Using experimental yeast maturations from Yoichi Distillery, located in the north of Japan, Yoichi Single Malt Aromatic Yeast is blended from a maturation that has a fresh estery aroma reminiscent of ginjyo sake; an often light and fragrant flavour that lends itself to delicate nuances (48 per cent ABV), with the distillery located in between the ocean and mountains. This blend includes batches that were initially abandoned due to the distinctive flavour profile, though after barrel maturation, this flavour is now recognised as essential to the batch.

Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast

The yeast profiles from Miyagikyo Distillery have been maturing in a glen surrounded by mountains and at a junction of two pristine rivers, with a key component of the liquid being distilled in the 1980s and no longer produced. While this longer matured flavour was challenging to integrate into Miyagikyo’s elegant style, the Nikka blenders were able to utilise such unique flavours in a distinct and appealing limited edition. Miyagikyo Single Malt Aromatic Yeast expresses a rich, fruit forward aroma of blended peaches and apricot (47 per cent ABV).

The best way to sample the 2022 Nikka Discovery whiskies is by acquiring a bottle through Dan Murphy’s or visiting one of Australia’s leading whisky and cocktail bars.