Yoichi 10 Year Old is a legendary flagship whisky from the Japanese Nikka Whisky Group, hailed as "the jewel in Nikka's crown." Production of this whisky was halted in 2015 due to a shortage of high-aged spirits, and it officially resumed production at the end of 2022. However, it is currently released in extremely limited quantities each year (approximately 9,000 bottles).
Core Flavors and Characteristics
Yoichi Distillery, located in Hokkaido, Japan, shares a similar geographical climate with the Scottish Highlands, resulting in spirits exhibiting a strong, cool, northern maritime character:
- Direct Coal Distillation: Yoichi is one of the very few distilleries in the world that still insists on using traditional direct coal-fired stills, which imparts a robust, powerful, and full-bodied, hard-edged smoky flavor.
- Flavor Profile: 45% ABV. Aromas include a pronounced peaty smoke and a slightly salty sea breeze, followed by toasted oak, sweet malt, and delicate herbal and berry notes. On the palate, it presents a round, full-bodied toast and smoky flavor, with a tropical fruit finish of spices, nuts, and vanilla cream.
- Differences between the old and new versions: The "old version" before 2015 used non-chill-filtered sherry cask flavor, resulting in a richer sherry cask flavor; the "new version" after 2022 switched to chill-filtered sherry cask flavor, maintaining the signature marine peaty notes while becoming cleaner, herbal, and more linear.
Key Features
Flavor and Texture: The aroma features peaty smoke, sea breeze saltiness, and toasted oak barrel notes. The palate is round and full-bodied, blending nuts, tropical fruits, spices, and vanilla cream, with a long, warm finish and subtle fruity and cocoa notes.
Industry Reviews: Awarded a high score of 93 points by the Whisky Bible, it is hailed as the jewel in the crown of Nikka.
