Yoichi, in Hokkaido, is Nikka's first distillery, founded by Masataka Taketsuru in 1934.1,2,3 Its stills are heated by direct coal fire, a method now rare even in Scotland.3,4,5 Nikka, which owns it, came under Asahi in 1954.2,6,7
Taketsuru went to Scotland in 1918 to study chemistry and distilling, and trained at the Longmorn, Bo'ness and Hazelburn distilleries.1,5 Aiming for a strong, Highland-style malt, he first planned to build in today's Ebetsu, but the site could flood, so he chose Yoichi.1
Great light flavor.
In 1952 the owner renamed itself Nikka Whisky and moved its head office to Tokyo.8,9 In 1954 a major shareholder sold his shares to Asahi Breweries, now Asahi Group Holdings.2,6,7 After taking over Asahi's cider business in 1960, Nikka moved the apple wine and apple brandy made at Yoichi since the founding to its Hirosaki plant by 1965.2 Asahi bought all of Nikka's shares in 2001, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.2,9
On 9 February 2022, 10 buildings became Important Cultural Properties, replacing the national registration of 9 buildings as Tangible Cultural Properties in 2005.2,3,10 The Council for Cultural Affairs, which proposed it, said the site keeps the full set of production buildings used since the founding, from preparing raw materials to distilling and storage.2,3,10
Asahi's marketer for Nikka says coal firing may be inefficient but gives Yoichi Single Malt its bold and complex character.3,4,5 A 2012 magazine profile listed 6 pot stills and 10 stainless steel washbacks, the tanks where the wash, or fermented beer, is made.5 The same profile said Yoichi whiskies have Highland-like richness and power from a peaty flavour, though the distillery can make styles from Lowland to Islay.5
In September 2025 Nikka said it would spend about 7 billion yen at Yoichi, adding storage buildings to supply more long-aged whisky.11,12 From 1 April 2026 Nikka renamed the Hokkaido Plant the Hokkaido Yoichi Distillery (北海道余市蒸溜所).13 In May 2026 Reuters reported that the 7 billion yen had been spent upgrading Yoichi.11,12
14 sources. Something wrong? Report it from the menu at the top of the page.
