Nikka's story begins with Masataka Taketsuru, who travelled to Scotland in 1918 to master the craft of whisky-making. Often celebrated as "The Father of Japanese Whisky," he returned home with deep knowledge of traditional Scottish techniques and fused them with meticulous Japanese craftsmanship to create what would become Nikka.

His passion for blending inspired the creation of the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries, two sites designed to produce a diverse palette of malt and grain whiskies, each contributing to Nikka's elegant, complex house style.

Taketsuru chose Yoichi, Hokkaido as his first distillery location for its striking similarity to Scotland: a cool climate, crisp sea air, pure water, and ideal humidity. These natural conditions, combined with traditional methods still used today, give Yoichi whiskies their bold, powerful character.

Driven by a desire to craft even more refined and layered blends, Taketsuru established the Miyagikyo Distillery in 1969. Joined by his son Takeshi and a dedicated team, he searched across Japan before selecting a lush, green valley west of Sendai, an area known as "Mori no Miyako"(The City of Trees). The result is a distillery renowned for producing soft, elegant, fruit-forward whiskies.

New to Our Shelves: The Nikka Coffey Range

Arriving in January, the Nikka Coffey range brings a distinctive energy to our collection. These spirits are crafted using rare 1960s Coffey stills, which create a richer, more expressive profile than modern column distillation. Each bottle showcases a signature silky texture and layered sweetness that sets the range apart.

What makes the Coffey range truly unique is Nikka's bold decision to distil not only grain whisky but also malt whisky in these traditional stills, an unconventional approach that results in a remarkably smooth, complex style.

The lineup includes Coffey Grain, Coffey Malt, Coffey Gin, and Coffey Vodka, all produced at Miyagikyo.

Also now in stock:

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt Capturing the true spirit of Yoichi, this single malt brings together various whiskies to create a beautifully balanced expression of peat, smoke, and bright fruit.

Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt A refined, fruit‑driven whisky crafted from unpeated and lightly peated barley, offering a delicate yet complex profile that reflects the elegance of its valley home.

Explore the full Nikka range here today.