Japan, Miyagi. Distillery operational. Owner: Nikka Whisky Distilling (Asahi)The younger sister of the legendary Yoichi distillery, Miyagikyo is the second distillery of the Nikka Whisky Distilling company, which was founded in 1934 (Dai Nippon Kaju Kabushiki Kaisha) by Masataka Taketsuru. The distillery was completed in 1969 on the main island of Honshu, in the Miyagi Prefecture and distilled its first malt in the same year. Futuristic and resolutely modern, it is home to several Coffey stills for the production of grain whisky, as well as the malt whisky used in the group's blends. More niche than its older sister, the versatility of Miyagikyo's character nonetheless makes it an appealing malt. It ranges from a soft, floral and fruity register to the more woody, spicy and sometimes smoky aromas commonly found in Yoichi.

A Miyagikyo distilled in 1988 and bottled in 2011, matured in a new oak butt (#92414). Maturation entirely in a new oak cask is rare, but Nikka has mastered the feat to great aplomb for both Yoichi and Miyagikyo, as so many single casks have proven. When this bottling was released, Nikka was still able to offer La Maison du Whisky a few single casks every year. A few years later, however, demand grew too high and Nikka stopped creating special bottlings and decided to concentrate on its classic range, which it completely redesigned, removing age statements in order to reduce the pressure on stocks. These old single casks are now some of the most sought-after from the group. A limited edition of 423 bottles.