Nikka Brought Back an Age Statement to Its Miyagikyo Whisky
A decade ago, Japanese whisky hit its peak in America; prices skyrocketed to levels not seen before, and bottles suddenly became increasingly scarce. Distilleries and producers blamed this on the category’s sudden rise in popularity, as collectors and whiskey fans became aware of just how good whisky from companies like Suntory and Nikka was. The end result was that many core single malt expressions and blends lost their age statements, but that trend has reversed lately—and the latest example is the return of Nikka‘s Miyagikyo Single Malt 10 Years Old.
The Japanese whisky market has calmed down a bit. Prices of certain age-statement single malts from Suntory remain high, particularly when it comes to ultra-aged bottles like Yamazaki 50, but overall they are easier to find and a bit more affordable. Removing age statements a decade ago allowed companies to bottle non-age-statement expressions instead that included younger whisky in the mix, a way of stretching stocks while still being able to release bottles with recognizable names. Nikka, the second biggest name in Japanese whisky, started returning age statements to its whisky a few years ago in 2022 with the relaunch of Yoichi Single Malt 10 Years Old. And now the 10-year-old single malt from Miyagikyo, its other key distillery which was built in 1969, has arrived.
“With the 10-year-old expression, we wanted to reveal a new dimension of Miyagikyo’s signature character,” said Emiko Kaji, Nikka Whisky education global PR leader, in a statement. “The result reflects both a decade of maturation and our vision for Miyagikyo’s future—honoring the distillery’s heritage while showcasing the confidence and craftsmanship of a new generation.” According to the brand, this 10-year-old whisky, bottled at 90 proof, builds upon the distillery’s signature flavors of “apple-like fruitiness and silky mouthfeel,” as well as allowing flavors to shine that have been picked up after a decade aging in sherry casks and new American oak barrels.
This new whisky comes in some updated packaging, as you might expect, so the label is now made from Japanese craft washi paper and there has been a shift in color from rose to green to represent the natural landscape surrounding Miyagikyo. This will be a very limited release, however—just 1,572 700-ml bottles are being released nationally, each with a price tag of $175 (it remains to be seen if these will go for much more than that on the secondary market). At the moment, there is no word whether or not the older age statements that were out more than a decade ago will return as well over the coming years, but that doesn’t seem very far-fetched at this point. We will keep you updated with any news.
