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Miyagikyo was founded iin 1969 and is Nikka's distillery of the future. Miyagikyo
is located on the island of Honshu to
the west of the city of Sendai, two
hours by high-speed train to the
northeast of Tokyo. Built in the
foothills of the Miyagi prefecture, at
the heart of a region famous for its
waterfalls and many hot springs, the
distillery is a true haven of peace.
After three years of
research, this site was chosen for its
pure air and high humidity levels, ideal
for ageing in barrels. The environment
is similar to that of the Cairngorms
region in the heart of Scotland. Only
the cherry trees remind you that you are
indeed thousands of miles from the
Highlands.
The contrast between this
green leafy environment and the
ultra-modern distillery is striking.
Here everything or practically
everything is computer-operated. The
malt is imported from Scotland or
Australia. The barrels are stored in
traditional cellars with just two
floors, as the distillery is situated in
the middle of an earthquake zone.
Miyagikyo, using large stills, produces
a spirit that is rich and fruity with
elegant aromas.
In 1998, a grain
distillery with two coffey type stills -
four columns in total - was built on the
same site as the malt distillery. One of
the two stills dates from the 19th
century. It is a real museum piece. This
magnificent copper column produces
traditional grain whisky from maize and
not wheat, as is often the case now in
Scotland.
Miyagikyo
also has a huge visitor's centre with a
typical Japanese restaurant and a bar offering tastings
of all Nikka group whiskies.
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