The appeal of Miyagikyo is its gorgeous sweetness. Unlike Yoichi, which has a smoky and peaty flavor, the distillery is located in a different location, making it a popular brand that offers a unique character. However, while it has become extremely popular, it has also become a hot topic that it has been discontinued due to a shortage of raw liquor.
In this article, we will explore the appeal of Miyagikyo. We will also touch on the lineup, reasons for discontinuation, prices, and more, so please read on for more information.
The appeal of single malt Miyagikyo! What is the difference between it and Yoichi Whisky?
" #Whiskey " "Miyagikyo Single Malt" is the well-known Nikka single malt whiskey. Unlike Yoichi, it is non-peated and has a sweet and mild taste. I'm planning to visit the distillery in October ^_^ pic.twitter.com/wU60Lxrf9B
— Kaito Fujioka (@kaitofujioka) August 19, 2022
What is Single Malt Miyagikyo?
Here we are, Miyagikyo Distillery.
— Hyakkei Aozora (@Aozora_hyakkei5) February 23, 2023
Before the tour, you can wander around and then do some sample tasting (fees apply).
I chose these three.
Already satisfied. pic.twitter.com/SORZda8GuL
Miyagikyo is a brand of single malt whiskey produced and sold by Nikka Whisky. It is brewed at the Miyagikyo Distillery , Nikka Whisky's second distillery.
Miyagikyo is located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Masataka Taketsuru, founder of Nikka Whisky, chose this location to create a whiskey with a different character from the company's first distillery, Yoichi Distillery . It is said that Taketsuru and his young staff worked together to build the distillery in this lush green area about 25km west of Sendai. The malt liquor produced at Miyagikyo has a distinctive, vibrant and fruity flavor.
Miyagikyo whiskey continues to grow today. One of Miyagikyo's characteristics is that while it continues to refine its inherited traditions, it is always coming up with new initiatives . Various ingenuity is put into the process from fermentation to distillation and aging, resulting in new, fresh, and high-quality Miyagikyo. In fact, in addition to the standard NV products, Miyagikyo also releases original limited edition products almost every year.
The difference between Nikka Whisky Yoichi and Miyagikyo
Thank you everyone for your hard work today!
— Jiji Cat (@xhtqBzFWvDQC8ia) December 3, 2023
Cheers with Miyagikyo Highball Yoichi straight 🍻 pic.twitter.com/sae6HIZYaR
Nikka Whisky's Miyagikyo is often compared to the company's single malt Yoichi. Although both are single malt whiskeys, they are produced in different distilleries and have distinct taste differences.
Yoichi is a whiskey made at the Yoichi Distillery in Hokkaido, and is characterized by its salty, smoky, and peaty flavors. On the other hand, Miyagikyo, as mentioned earlier, is characterized by its gorgeous, fruity aroma. Neither of the two contrasting flavors is superior, and the whiskey you should choose will depend on your preferences. If you like sweeter whiskeys or mellow flavors, you may find Miyagikyo more delicious than Yoichi .
If we were to compare them to Scotch, Yoichi is similar to the smoky Campbeltown malt, while Miyagikyo has a more vibrant flavor that is more common in Speyside and Lowland malts.
By the way, one of the most famous brands of Nikka Whisky is Taketsuru . Taketsuru is a so-called "pure malt" whiskey, and is characterized by being a blend of multiple malts rather than a single malt. Taketsuru, which is a blend of Miyagikyo and Yoichi malts, is fragrant and easy to drink like a blended whiskey.
Types of whiskey including Miyagikyo NV, list price, reviews and characteristics
Of the Miyagikyo lineup, only Miyagikyo NV is sold as a standard product. However, in the past, long-aged bottles were also sold. In recent years, limited-time and limited-quantity bottles have been released almost every year.From here, we will introduce the lineup of Miyagikyo.
Single Malt Miyagikyo NV
- Alcohol content: 45%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 4,500 yen (excluding tax)
- Current products, standard products
This product meets the standards of so-called Japanese whiskey , and although it is a classic, it is so popular that it is often out of stock. This is an impressive bottle with a gorgeous aroma reminiscent of apples and pears, which are characteristic of Miyagikyo, and a vanilla aroma from the casks.
Miyagikyo 10 Year Single Malt
- Alcohol content: 45%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 4,500 yen (excluding tax) *at the time
- Discontinued product
Unfortunately, it is no longer on sale, so it is not easy to get hold of and has become rare. When it was first released, it was sold for 4,500 yen (excluding tax) per bottle, but now it is worth about 60,000 yen online .
Miyagikyo 12 year old single malt
- Alcohol content: 45%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 7,000 yen (excluding tax) *at the time
- Discontinued product
This product was originally priced at 7,000 yen (excluding tax), but has now skyrocketed to around 79,000 yen per bottle. It is so rare that it is difficult to get one even for 80,000 yen , and the price is expected to continue to rise.
Miyagikyo 15 Year Single Malt
- Alcohol content: 45%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 10,000 yen (excluding tax) *at the time
- Discontinued product
This bottle was released along with the Miyagikyo 10 Year and Miyagikyo 12 Year, but is no longer on sale. It is one of the Miyagikyo bottles that is becoming increasingly expensive, and is currently being sold for around 158,000 yen per bottle .
Single Malt Miyagikyo Moscatel Wood Finish
- Alcohol content: 46%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 15,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited quantity: 3,500
- Release date: September 26, 2017
Several limited editions were released in 2017, but this is a bottle released for the Japanese market. Only 3,500 bottles were released, and each one is now trading at around 39,000 yen .
Single Malt Miyagikyo Rum Wood Finish
Now, let's start with BOTA's @OtaruBoTAHiguma Omakase course.
— Kanba (@kanba0930) June 25, 2021
Yoichi Miyagikyo Rum Wood Finish. Both are sweet. Miyagikyo is sweeter and suits me.
There is a time limit, but I'm looking forward to it. #TWLC pic.twitter.com/7jn9Fm2cIk
- Alcohol content: 46%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: Approximately 20,000 to 50,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited quantity: 3,500
- Release date: November 2017 *Limited edition for the European and US markets
This was sold as a set of two bottles, Yoichi and Miyagikyo, and the two bottles were priced at approximately 20,000 to 50,000 yen in Japanese yen.
Single Malt Miyagikyo Manzanilla Wood Finish
- Alcohol content: 48%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 15,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited quantity: 4,000
- Release date: September 26, 2018
The gorgeous Miyagikyo has been given a more mellow sweetness, with hints of dried fruit and chocolate. This is a limited edition of 4,000 bottles, and is currently priced at around 50,000 yen .
Single Malt Miyagikyo Limited Edition 2019
- Alcohol content: 48%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 300,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited number: 700
- Release date: March 12, 2019
The bottles, which are made by carefully selecting and vatting whiskeys from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, have a sweet and mellow taste that comes from the sherry casks. The current market price has risen to about 500,000 yen.
Single Malt Miyagikyo Apple Brandy Wood Finish
- Alcohol content: 47%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 15,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited edition: 6,450
- Release date: March 24, 2020
This bottle was released as a limited edition to celebrate the 100th wedding anniversary of Masataka Taketsuru and his wife Rita, making it a perfect bottle to celebrate such a special occasion. It is difficult to obtain, and is sold online for around 40,000 yen a bottle.
Single Malt Miyagikyo Peated
- Alcohol content: 48%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 20,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited quantity: 10,000
- Release date: September 28, 2021
Around this time, the number of limited edition releases began to increase, with releases now limited to 10,000 bottles, more than ever before . Although it is a limited edition, it has only been released a few years ago, so it is still possible to purchase it on the market for around 22,000 yen.
Single Malt Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast
- Alcohol content: 47%
- Capacity: 700ml
- Price: 20,000 yen (excluding tax)
- Limited quantity: 10,000 in Japan, 10,000 overseas
- Release date: September 27, 2022
Although this is also a limited edition item, it is relatively easy to obtain, and the online price is around 22,000 yen, which is close to the list price .
Is Miyagikyo no longer on sale? Rumors of it being discontinued and how to purchase it
Please note that some Miyagikyo tickets are no longer available.
Miyagikyo is popular not only in Japan but all over the world, but its rarity is often the subject of discussion, with people saying things like "it's not for sale" or "it's hard to buy." Miyagikyo has been directly affected by the recent Japanese whiskey boom, and as its existence itself has become rare, it is not easy to buy. In particular, it is important to note that the vintage bottles of "Miyagikyo 10 Year", "Miyagikyo 12 Year", and "Miyagikyo 15 Year" are no longer on sale . In order to purchase these discontinued bottles, you will need to pay more than the list price at online auctions or online shops.By the way, the sale of Miyagikyo vintage bottles ended in 2015. This was a time when Japan was experiencing a whiskey boom, and the lack of raw liquor was a frequent topic of discussion. Influenced by the NHK drama "Massan" and other shows, Nikka Whisky decided to prioritize its limited raw liquor over the pure malt "Taketsuru". As a result, the sale of Miyagikyo aged bottles ended, and this situation continues to this day.
If it's a current item, you may be able to purchase it at the regular price.
Although Miyagikyo is rare, you can still buy current products such as "Miyagikyo NV" and new limited editions such as "Miyagikyo Aromatic Yeast" at the regular price. However, because it is a rare product, it is very difficult to find it at supermarkets or convenience stores.I came across this when I went to buy pork liver pate!
— Eternal middle management (real)🍥 (@zakMBBVurD2vdlF) September 3, 2023
Taketsuru, Miyagikyo, Yoichi, From the Barrel! I appreciate the fixed price. I got some extra Taketsuru senior and went home. Thank you Yamaya. #whiskypic.twitter.com /mADkKKZQ8M
If you want to buy Miyagikyo at the regular price, we recommend the lottery sales at department stores and major liquor stores . Check the information on the lottery sales that are held regularly and try to buy it at the regular price. Also, if you are lucky and the timing is good, you may find it on the shelves, so keep an eye out.
For Miyagikyo purchase appraisal, please contact Linksus, a liquor purchase specialist store.
Miyagikyo, which is difficult to obtain and has a high market value, is also subject to high appraisals when buying alcohol. In particular, discontinued bottles such as "Miyagikyo 10 Year", "Miyagikyo 12 Year", and "Miyagikyo 15 Year" can be appraised at several times the original list price . If you are thinking of organizing your collection, we recommend that you consider using a specialized alcohol buying store instead of disposing of them as they are.At Linkus, a liquor purchase specialty store , we can purchase Miyagikyo whiskey at the highest market price because our professional appraisers carefully evaluate the whiskey. In addition to in-store purchases , we also offer on- site purchases and home delivery purchases , so please feel free to use our service from anywhere in the country. There is no charge for use, so you can leave it to us with peace of mind.
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summary
Miyagikyo is a Nikka Whisky single malt that is as popular as Yoichi. In contrast to the powerful Yoichi, Miyagikyo has a fruity sweetness and rich flavor.Miyagikyo has a non-vintage product called Miyagikyo NV, as well as many aged bottles and limited edition products. They are quite hard to come by, but if you do come across them, you'll be lucky, so if you're a whiskey fan, be sure to check them out.