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.

Nikka has released many bottlings of Yoichi and Miyagikyo available only at the distilleries. Each bottling focuses on a particular aspect of the single malt, summarized in two terms, such as “peaty & salty” or “sherry and sweet”. These combinations are used by master blenders in a similar way to a parfumier’’s base and can then be used in other blends, and even by the taster themselves if they own several different editions. This expression showcases the woody and mellow qualities of the Coffey grain produced at Miyagikyo.