A single-cafe grain whisky produced exclusively at the Miyagikyo distillery.
This is a grain whisky distilled in an old-style café still, one of Nikka Whisky’s most famous whiskies.
The 12-year-old version of this series was previously released, but due to the recent Japanese whisky boom, it has been discontinued due to a shortage of original whisky, and is now being released again as a non-aged version.
Compared to Suntory, Kirin, and Scottish grain whiskies, Nikka’s Cafe Grain is a heavier grain whisky with a strong sweetness and grain-derived aroma.
１．Company
Nikka Whisky Company, Ltd.
２．Distillery
Miyagikyo Distillery
It has been about 30 years since the first distillery was started in Yoichi, Hokkaido.
Masataka Taketsuru, who believes that “blending multiple whisky distilleries makes whisky richer and richer in flavor”, desperately needed a second distillery.
Taketsuru chose Miyagikyo in Sendai. Miyagikyo Gorge in Sendai, a lush green gorge blessed with two clear streams, the Hirose River and the Shinkawa River. When Taketsuru first visited this area, he drank a bottle of Black Nikka he had in the clear water of the Shinkawa River and confirmed the taste. It is said that he decided to build the distillery on the spot.
The Miyagikyo distillery boasts a “café-type continuous distillation machine. At the time of its introduction, this distillation machine was already considered obsolete. Because it is an old type, it tends to leave a lingering taste, but Taketsuru chose this old type distiller because the technology allows the distiller to transform it into the original aroma and sweetness of the raw ingredients. At Miyagikyo Distillery, the people who inherited Taketsuru’s passion continue to make various attempts in pursuit of the deliciousness of whisky.
３．Product Name
Nikka Single Cafe Grain Woody & Mellow
４．Characteristics
Strong, sweet aroma with a graininess characteristic of cafe grain
It is characterized by a woody aroma of oak mixed with a slight sweet vanilla flavor. The mouthfeel is smooth and irresistible, with a rich honey-like sweetness and bitter oaky, vanilla wafers. Later, along with the sweetness, the oakiness gradually increases and becomes tingling.
Nose: Mainly maple notes. Malt can also be detected later.
Taste: You can enjoy the sweetness more straight. The sweetness is more pronounced when watered down.
Aftertaste: Mellow and spicy.
Ingredients: Grain, Malt
Alcohol content: 55%.
５．Awards
International Spirits Challenge 2016 Gold
６．Price
Reference retail price: 6,680 yen (tax included) for 500 ml
Mail order and online auctions sell for around 12,000-14,000 yen, more than double the regular price. (As of August 4, 2019)
Prices at DiningBar Hidden Lounge
At DiningBar Hidden Lounge, we serve this whisky for
45ml: 3,600 yen
30ml: 2,400 yen
15ml: 1,200 yen
The whisky is available for sale at the following prices
７．Finary
The vanilla and grain-like sweetness is lighter than the previous 12 year old and the regular Café Grain 45%, but it seems to be better balanced. From the light sweetness to the middle and onward, there is a woodiness derived from the oak, which gives width and tightness to the somewhat monotonous grain flavor.
The Nikka Distillery Limited Series is very difficult to obtain, so the price is rising.
Please take this opportunity to try it at DiningBar Hidden Lounge.
