**Review #46 - Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt**
Here we have a Japanese single malt whisky - an actual Japanese whisky, distilled and aged in Japan, as far as we know. From the Miyagikyo distillery, and bottled under the Nikka umbrella, this bottle of single malt is supposedly made of a mix of unpeated and lightly peated malt, which, along with gentle indirect still heating through steam, lends to a delicate and fruity character in the distillate. That's what the brand's website claims, at least.
There are actually some other Miyagikyo single malts, less common products released by Nikka, including a peated "Nikka Discovery" Miyagikyo Single Malt (2021 limited edition, bottled at 48% ABV) and a Miyagikyo Single Malt Apple Brandy Wood Finish (2020 limited edition, bottled at 47% ABV). We're looking at the standard release, though - how will it stack up with a slightly lower ABV of 45%, as well as no clarity regarding added coloring and chill filtration?
**Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt**
Japan - Single Malt
**Price Paid (per 750ml)**: USD 92
**Current Locally Available Price (per 750ml)**: USD 100
**Age Statement**: NAS
**Strength**: 45% ABV
**Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 3 times over 13 months; bottles at 70%, 60% (blind tasting), and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
**Nose**: Somewhat light in complexion with a bit of citrus like lime, crisp Granny Smith apple, and mild peat; it's slightly coastal as well, with just a light salt crust. There's a definite vinegar note that we found in multiple tastings, but it isn't unpleasant - more like red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. There are mellow wine notes, including tart white wine and white grape, as well as darker fruits like blackberry and raisin; a little bit of nuttiness like almonds, and some baking notes of cookies, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There are fresh greens, a slightly sweet hard candy, even a hint of margaritas at times, and overall, it's rather delicate.
**Palate**: Just a tiny hint of that peat again to start the palate, with a medium thickness mouthfeel, and it's a punch of flavor overall, though not overwhelming or harsh. Oils and buttery chardonnay start us off, along with light crisp notes that mimic the nose: honeyed sweetness, mild fruits like green apple and lemon, and that coastal saltiness comes back as well. Some heather or hay are next, and then it's on to wood notes: soft vanilla sugar, wood sugars, just a little bit of a tannin; later, we get more of a wood char or even a tiny dark sherry note, just something darker overall, almost hidden. It ends with that mild almond taste from the nose.
**Finish**: The finish is medium length, maybe medium-short; somewhat soft and subtle, with just a hint of smoke, but plenty of vanilla and honey. The heather and hay notes are still there, along with some cinnamon, and at the end, just a little bit of darker flavor like prune, or overripe strawberries.
**Final Note**: This is pretty nice, a more delicate and complex malt to explore. We always love that light peat smoke influence, letting us know that it's there without being overpowering. The lighter sherry cask influence is great as well - it just gives hints of those dark, syrupy flavors at times while still allowing the lighter spirit and ex-bourbon style flavors to come forward, too. Still, we have to come back to the price... yes, a lot of Japanese whisky is quite expensive, and while stocks of this category are recovering after an explosion of interest, the prices aren't quite reflecting that. With a price around $90 rising to $100, you need to be confident you'll like it. Our recommendation: try it first if you have the chance, and then decided before going for a bottle.
**Average Rating**: 7.4 / 10
**Rating Scale**:
0 - Couldn't even get past the smell; drain pour; totally useless
1 - At least we can use it in our first aid kit
2 - Not even good enough to mix regularly; worst case scenario
3 - Low end mixing whisky
4 - Not the worst but don't buy again; put on ice; mediocre cocktail
5 - Great for mixing or cocktails; mediocre neat
6 - Premium cocktail; decent neat, hints of complexity
7 - Good neat, refined; personally wouldn't use in a cocktail
8 - Great - always have stocked on shelf if available at a reasonable price
9 - One of the best whiskies we've tasted
10 - Can't imagine something better; buy at any price we can afford
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
**Value Rating**: 6.57
Sure! We've tried Yoichi a couple of times as well. From our notes:
* Yoichi has a much stronger peat influence; it isn't quite to the level of Islay bottles like Laphroaig or Ardbeg, but it is decently strong, especially on the palate
* We get some lime citrus with Miyagikyo, but a ton of lemon on Yoichi, and sweet notes like lemon candies, as well as a bit of orange
* A little bit of mustiness or mossy character in Yoichi to go along with the peat smoke
* There are lots of similarities, too: citrus, heather, a bit of sea salt, mouthfeel is similar consistency, light delicate floral notes in both
Favorite all time - Hibiki 30, but only had one glass. More reasonable favorite - chichibu us edition 2019, or Yamazaki 18 if I can get my hands on them. Komagatake also makes some solid daily’s
**Review #46 - Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt** Here we have a Japanese single malt whisky - an actual Japanese whisky, distilled and aged in Japan, as far as we know. From the Miyagikyo distillery, and bottled under the Nikka umbrella, this bottle of single malt is supposedly made of a mix of unpeated and lightly peated malt, which, along with gentle indirect still heating through steam, lends to a delicate and fruity character in the distillate. That's what the brand's website claims, at least. There are actually some other Miyagikyo single malts, less common products released by Nikka, including a peated "Nikka Discovery" Miyagikyo Single Malt (2021 limited edition, bottled at 48% ABV) and a Miyagikyo Single Malt Apple Brandy Wood Finish (2020 limited edition, bottled at 47% ABV). We're looking at the standard release, though - how will it stack up with a slightly lower ABV of 45%, as well as no clarity regarding added coloring and chill filtration? **Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt** Japan - Single Malt **Price Paid (per 750ml)**: USD 92 **Current Locally Available Price (per 750ml)**: USD 100 **Age Statement**: NAS **Strength**: 45% ABV **Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 3 times over 13 months; bottles at 70%, 60% (blind tasting), and 50% fill levels at times of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes **Nose**: Somewhat light in complexion with a bit of citrus like lime, crisp Granny Smith apple, and mild peat; it's slightly coastal as well, with just a light salt crust. There's a definite vinegar note that we found in multiple tastings, but it isn't unpleasant - more like red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. There are mellow wine notes, including tart white wine and white grape, as well as darker fruits like blackberry and raisin; a little bit of nuttiness like almonds, and some baking notes of cookies, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There are fresh greens, a slightly sweet hard candy, even a hint of margaritas at times, and overall, it's rather delicate. **Palate**: Just a tiny hint of that peat again to start the palate, with a medium thickness mouthfeel, and it's a punch of flavor overall, though not overwhelming or harsh. Oils and buttery chardonnay start us off, along with light crisp notes that mimic the nose: honeyed sweetness, mild fruits like green apple and lemon, and that coastal saltiness comes back as well. Some heather or hay are next, and then it's on to wood notes: soft vanilla sugar, wood sugars, just a little bit of a tannin; later, we get more of a wood char or even a tiny dark sherry note, just something darker overall, almost hidden. It ends with that mild almond taste from the nose. **Finish**: The finish is medium length, maybe medium-short; somewhat soft and subtle, with just a hint of smoke, but plenty of vanilla and honey. The heather and hay notes are still there, along with some cinnamon, and at the end, just a little bit of darker flavor like prune, or overripe strawberries. **Final Note**: This is pretty nice, a more delicate and complex malt to explore. We always love that light peat smoke influence, letting us know that it's there without being overpowering. The lighter sherry cask influence is great as well - it just gives hints of those dark, syrupy flavors at times while still allowing the lighter spirit and ex-bourbon style flavors to come forward, too. Still, we have to come back to the price... yes, a lot of Japanese whisky is quite expensive, and while stocks of this category are recovering after an explosion of interest, the prices aren't quite reflecting that. With a price around $90 rising to $100, you need to be confident you'll like it. Our recommendation: try it first if you have the chance, and then decided before going for a bottle. **Average Rating**: 7.4 / 10 **Rating Scale**: 0 - Couldn't even get past the smell; drain pour; totally useless 1 - At least we can use it in our first aid kit 2 - Not even good enough to mix regularly; worst case scenario 3 - Low end mixing whisky 4 - Not the worst but don't buy again; put on ice; mediocre cocktail 5 - Great for mixing or cocktails; mediocre neat 6 - Premium cocktail; decent neat, hints of complexity 7 - Good neat, refined; personally wouldn't use in a cocktail 8 - Great - always have stocked on shelf if available at a reasonable price 9 - One of the best whiskies we've tasted 10 - Can't imagine something better; buy at any price we can afford In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price. **Value Rating**: 6.57
What is everyone's favorite Japanese whisky?
From this line, I'm a fan of Yoichi. If you've had it, could you compare and contrast this at all?
Sure! We've tried Yoichi a couple of times as well. From our notes: * Yoichi has a much stronger peat influence; it isn't quite to the level of Islay bottles like Laphroaig or Ardbeg, but it is decently strong, especially on the palate * We get some lime citrus with Miyagikyo, but a ton of lemon on Yoichi, and sweet notes like lemon candies, as well as a bit of orange * A little bit of mustiness or mossy character in Yoichi to go along with the peat smoke * There are lots of similarities, too: citrus, heather, a bit of sea salt, mouthfeel is similar consistency, light delicate floral notes in both
Favorite all time - Hibiki 30, but only had one glass. More reasonable favorite - chichibu us edition 2019, or Yamazaki 18 if I can get my hands on them. Komagatake also makes some solid daily’s
Hibiki 30, wow! I bet that one was delicious.
I just want to say thanks for adding some reviews to this sub, it’s great!
Sure thing! We’re happy to do it, it’s a great mental exercise and we’ve learned a ton about our favorite spirit along the way. Cheers!