Yoichi (Nikka) Distillery

The Yoichi distillery is on Japans Northern island of Hokkaido. It is owned by Nikka, one of the two dominant Japanese single malt whisky makers. Nikka says that it typically produces rich, peaty and masculine malts. The distillery Masataka Taketsuru, one of the two founding fathers of Japanese whisky, chose Yoichi as the site of his new distillery when he left Suntory to found Nikka in 1934. They began distilling whisky in 1936 and released their first dram in 1940. Taketsuru is supposed to have chosen Yoichi because of its similarity to the distillery sites he had seen in Scotland. I have never been there but it is supposed to be beautifully located, next to the sea and surrounded by mountains. It takes its water from underground springs. The peculiarity of Yoichi is its use of old coal-fired pot stills, a method which Taketsuru learned in Scotland but has now almost completely died out in that country.

Author: Caroline Porsiel

Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.