Nikka Miyagikyo Peated 2021 Single Malt Japanese Whisky Southern

48% ABV, bottled in 2021

Number 13 on Whiskey Advocate’s Top 20 Whiskies of 2022

“The conventional understanding of Nikka’s two distilleries is that Yoichi whiskies are smoky while Miyagikyo expressions are light and fruity. Here Nikka disrupts that thinking in a marriage of peat smoke with all that Miyagikyo has to offer. The nose starts with lemon, apricot, and poached pear as the smoke gently emerges. The palate offers vanilla, caramel, and a layered subtle peat smoke that is positively ethereal. There is lots more to explore: If Nikka hoped to break the mold and venture into new spaces, it has succeeded admirably with this masterpiece. —David Fleming”

Nikka Whisky introduced its first set of releases from the “Nikka Discovery” series in the U.S. in fall 2021: Single Malt Yoichi Non-Peated and Single Malt Miyagikyo Peated. The “Nikka Discovery” series will develop distinctive limited editions over the next three years in anticipation of Nikka Whisky’s 90th Anniversary in 2024. Each year will focus on a different component of the whisky-making process that Nikka has practiced since 1934, offering an inside look at the various experiments within Nikka’s two distilleries.

Designed to overturn the preconceived images of each single malt, these rare versions of Yoichi and Miyagikyo single malts are the first look showcase of “Nikka Discovery” and highlight the distillery’s diverse ingredients. Single Malt Miyagikyo Peated (48% ABV) is crafted solely from batches of peated malts, which offers a significant distinction from the “light and fruity” image of Miyagikyo. This expression showcases the exquisite combination of distinctive peaty notes and boldness, leaving its signature estery hint in the aftertaste.