Nikka Miyagikyo Fruity & Rich Single Malt Japanese Whisky (500ml)

Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
One of three high-strength editions labelled as "Distillery Limited" and originally available via the distillery only. Readers may remember Miyagikyo making headlines in September 2015 when they discontinued their entire range due to stock shortages caused by an unprecedented boom in Japanese whisky. The label returned to market with a single NAS expression. Since then it's been the only official release that's readily available - anything else comes from the secondary market or the distillery direct. If you've been wanting to up the ante and get closer to the 'real' taste of 100% Japanese whisky with no imported additives, this is a perfect opportunity. The 'Key Malts' series lands at a uniform 55% which is considered close enough to cask strength. At the time of writing, prices vary dramatically. In Australia, it's not unusual to pay $450 plus (if you can find them) so the current offer should tempt both drinkers and collectors.

Miyagikyo is Nikka’s second distillery, opening in 1969. Some commentators still refer to it as Sendai, which was its name before Asahi took control of Nikka in 2001. Founder, Masataka Taketsuru's intention was to expand the variety of malts available for his blends, so from the outset, the aim was to build the polar opposite of Yoichi. He sited Miyagikyo partly because the Hirosegawa and Nikkagawa rivers deliver a high-quality water supply. That combined with Miyagikyo’s different natural environment and the use of steam heat distillation, as opposed to coal and direct flame, results in a malt with a relatively mild and fruity character compared to the more powerful style of its sister distillery. Pot stills at Miyagikyo are considerably bigger too, and include boil balls along with an upward sloping lyne arm. This all contributes to a considerable amount of copper contact, stripping out the heavier compounds and leaving a delicate style of newmake. Finally, more unpeated and lightly peated barley is utilised at Miyagikyo, with the majority imported from Scotland. 'Fruity and Rich' is almost certainly an x-Bourbon cask matured malt, promising a dram with lots of citrus, apple and pear backed up by crisp oak.

Other reviews... Colour: white wine. Nose: it is very fruity, and even Haribo-ish. A pack of sweets and a little green oak, then liquorice wood, Chinese mushrooms, and wulong tea. I’m sorry but I don’t find this ‘rich’. Unless… With water: goes towards lemon balm and ripe peaches. Still no obvious richness. Mouth (neat): the same pack of jelly babies, bears, and crocodiles, orange drops, and green tea sweets. Ever tried that? In fact there is a feeling of macha, which is troubling, isn’t it. With water: excellent. Rather tropical fruits this time, even bananas. Finish: medium, clean, and indeed very fruity. Melons. Comments: perhaps were the real names lost in translation? What’ sure is that this works very well, even if I found the ‘Malty & Soft’ deeper. 86 points - whiskyfun.com