Whisky Yoichi - The Scottish soul of Japan

The Yoichi distillery, founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru on Hokkaido, embodies the spirit of Scotch whisky making in Japan like no other. Taketsuru, who learnt his craft in Scotland, chose Yoichi because of its harsh coastal climate - similar to that of the Highlands - and thus created a whisky with an unmistakable strength of character. Today, Yoichi is one of Japan's most iconic single malts and epitomises powerful elegance.

Yoichi's whisky is characterised by its smoky, almost islay-like character, which is created by traditional coal-fired stills. This method, which has become rare in Scotland, gives the distillate an intense depth with notes of sea salt, dried fruit and a hint of peat smoke. At the same time, Yoichi surprises with an unexpected finesse, which manifests itself in delicate flavours of honey, nuts and spices.

The older bottlings in particular, such as the "Yoichi 20 Years Old", are considered masterpieces of the art of distilling and achieve top prices at auctions. However, the standard bottlings also impress with their complexity and balance.

Yoichi is more than just a whisky - it is the legacy of Taketsuru, who combined Scottish tradition with Japanese precision. Every sip tells of the stormy winds of Hokkaido and the passion of a man who shaped Japan's whisky history forever. In his powerful way, Yoichi remains an indispensable part of the world's whisky culture.