Nikka Whisky Single Malt Miyagikyo - No Age Statement at a Reasonable Price

Miyagikyo Distillery makes both malted barley and grain whisky for the Nikka lines of Japanese whisky. The pot stills used to make this single malt are plentiful, large, and heated slowly to focus on floral notes. 

Miyagikyo is available as a no age statement, and as a 12 year old variety. The one with the age statement sells for around for $1,229.99. I have tasting notes of this whisky from several years ago, and I can tell you it’s not worth it at that price. The Whiskey Jug has a review up with similar notes to my old ones. 

The Miyagikyo of the no age statement variety is significantly cheaper and probably (if my old notes are to be believed) almost as good (Shout-out: If anyone has a sample, I’m happy to put this to the test). 

As I noted earlier, Japanese whisky is complicated, but there are some terrific offerings including this one. 

From Nikka’s website: 

Miyagikyo Single Malt is described as soft and fruity. Using less peaty malt, this whisky is distilled in a pot still heated by indirect steam at a low temperature. Miyagikyo Single Malt has an elegant fruitiness and a distinctive aroma with a strong Sherry cask influence.

The review: 

Nikka Single Malt Miyagikyo
Category: Single malt, Japanese whisky
Score: 85

Nose: Malty, in that classic single malt way. Powdered sugar. Ginger ale. Light caramel. Touches of oak spice. Hints of cinnamon. Fairly subtle, and inviting. 

Palate: There’s a youthful edge this whisky is precarious balanced on, where in some moments it can taste a tad too young. It’s subtle and wafts away in moments. Otherwise, it’s got a lot of great notes that make-up for it. Malted barley sweetness, pecan fattiness, dark chocolate, freshly cut oak, and touches of smokiness. The maltiness stays through to the finish, as the oak spice intensifies nicely. The caramels melt away to a wonderful buttery notes. 

Conclusion: It’s a classic single malt profile, one that’s often forgotten about in the world of big cask finishes. I really enjoy it for what it is. The sherry cask influences are gentle—this is all about the malted barley and oak zesty spice. When I drink this, I think of the best of old school single malt scotch. It brings me back to a wonderful place. If you love your big bold sherry cask finishes, this isn’t for you, but for me, it brings me back to another time when single malts were simpler. 

Disclaimer: Thank you to Woodman Wine & Spirits for providing me a bottle of this whisky for the purpose of this review. It had no baring on my review.