This fall 2020, Nikka Whisky, known for its mastery in blending, releases a refined Taketsuru Pure Malt (43% ABV; $79.99 SRP), a smooth blend of 100% malt whiskies to showcase the contrast and balance from Nikka’s two distilleries: Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Imported by San Francisco’s Hotaling & Co. and named after Nikka’s founder Masataka Taketsuru, the whisky features a new label design, and will be available beginning November 2020.
Taketsuru Pure Malt is a blended malt whisky named after Nikka’s founder Masataka Taketsuru, the first Japanese who mastered whisky-making in Scotland and brought this expertise back to Japan. The influence of ex-sherry casks remains as the key profile, but the enhanced presence of Yoichi’s malt characteristics helps to further enrich the mouthfeel and smokiness, providing even greater depth and balance to the resulting blend. Coupled with the new package design, this updated expression embodies Taketsuru and the art of blending Nikka inherited from its founder. The label represents both sides of Nikka’s founder, inheriting the serious and traditional elements from the previous design, while also incorporating the modern and playful side of Masataka Taketsuru. Patterns of bamboo (take) leaves and crane (tsuru) birds are also elegantly depicted.
“The refined Taketsuru Pure Malt is an exciting evolution of our founder’s namesake blend,” says Emiko Kaji, Nikka Whisky international business development manager. “We have refined the formula and design to represent both sides of Masataka’s personality, being a disciplined craftsman and a person of curiosity and open-mindedness. We hope this expression will be enjoyed by connoisseurs and storytellers seeking high quality whiskies with rich stories behind.”
“Taketsuru is one of Nikka’s signature expressions and any bottle bearing his name comes with high expectations,” says Hotaling & Co. CEO and President Dan Leese. “The package and liquid refinement of Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt celebrates the brand’s rich past and the portfolio continues to contribute to Hotaling & Co.’s artisanal world whiskies that are truly special.”
The Nikka range also includes the newly released Yoichi Single Malt Whisky Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels (40% ABV, $249.99 SRP) and Miyagikyo Single Malt Whisky Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels (40% ABV, $249.99 SRP); Nikka Days (40% ABV, $50 SRP), an elegant whisky for everyday drinking occasions; Nikka From The Barrel (51.4% ABV, $65 SRP), named the 2018 Whisky of the Year by Whisky Advocate; Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky (45% ABV, $75 SRP), the malted barley whisky distilled in a column still; Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky (45% ABV, SRP $70), an elevation of the style of whisky that is more typically used for blending and rarely bottled on its own, and Nikka Coffey Gin (47% ABV, $50 SRP), and Nikka Coffey Vodka (40% ABV, $45 SRP), which arrived stateside in 2017.
