Japan, Hokkaido. Distillery operational. Owner: Nikka

Whisky Distilling (Asahi)Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru in the south-west of the island of Hokkaido in the fishing village from which it takes its name, Yoichi caused quite a stir when, in 2001, its 62.2% 10 Year Old was named “Best Single Malt in the World” by a panel formed primarily of journalists and professionals from the Scotch whisky industry. Since then, the ongoing stream of Japanese whiskies has continued to chip away at the assumed supremacy of Scottish, Irish and American whiskies in the international scene. Yoichi has played a particularly active role in this phenomenon, releasing numerous exclusive versions of its malt, including Yoichi 20 Year Old 1987, 55%; Yoichi 25 Year Old 1988, 62% and Yoichi 35 Year Old.

A Yoichi distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2012, matured in a recharred hogshead (#206497). These are previously used casks that have been charred on the inside to give a second lease of life. Nikka is very fond of these types of cask, which marry particularly with the rustic and complex nature of their whiskies, in this case with Yoichi, thanks to its unusual coal-fired stills similar to those used in Scotland half a century ago. 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 instead concentrated on its classic range, which it completely redesigned, removing age statements in order to relieve some of the pressure on stocks. These old single casks are now some of the most sought-after from the group. A limited edition single cask of 167 bottles.