I went to Snowy Hokkaido Just to Try Nikka Distillery Whisky!

Join Shizuka on an immersive journey to the renowned Yoichi Nikka Distillery in Hokkaido, where the art of Japanese whisky production comes to life.

In this video, Shizuka delves into the intricate process, from barley malting to cask aging, with a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship involved.

At Yoichi Distillery, guests can immerse themselves in the legacy of Masataka Taketsuru, the founding father of Japanese whisky. After spending crucial years in Scotland studying distillation and apprenticing at various distilleries, Taketsuru established his own distillery in 1934. It’s now Shizuka’s chance to delve into his remarkable journey and contributions to the whisky industry.

The adventure continues with a whisky tasting session right at the distillery, where Shizuka explores the diverse flavors and nuances of different blends, gaining an appreciation for the spectrum of whiskies, including those with smoky notes, sweet aromas, and everything in between.

To enhance the whisky experience, Shizuka takes you to Rita’s Kitchen, where you can savor delicious recipes crafted by Rita, the wife of Masataka Taketsuru and the symbolic “mother of Japanese whisky.” These dishes are carefully curated to perfectly complement the distinct flavors of Japanese whisky.

Finally, Shizuka introduces two amazing bars where you can indulge in exquisite Yoichi whisky. One is located in Otaru, Hokkaido, aptly named Rita as an hommage. The other is situated in Tokyo, providing a convenient option for those unable to visit Hokkaido during their stay.

FEATURED FOODS
Crane’s Bouquet
Roasted Chicken
Hokkaido Pork Spare Ribs Cooked in Apple Cider
Nikka Single Cask Malt Whisky
Nikka Whisky Tsuru
Woody & Vanillic Single Malt Yoichi Whisky
Peaty & Salty Single Malt Yoichi Whisky
Smoked Scallop
Single Malt Miyagikyo Whisky with Pear
Single Malt Yoichi Whisky
Carpaccio
US Prime Hanging Tender Beef
LOCATION
Yoichi Distillery
Yoichi, Hokkaido
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LAkFKHobFsLgjxno6

Rita’s Kitchen
Yoichi, iHokkaido
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EwH1aFVfNmMo6zXH9

Nikka Bar Rita
Otaru, Hokkaido
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zcy3NShJmwUcBDTa8

Tokyo Whisky Library
Omotesando, Tokyo
https://maps.app.goo.gl/r1TMLa85TLLTG53N6

TIMELINE
0:00 Intro
0:42 Yoichi
2:16 Whisky Distillery
6:24 Rita’s Kitchen
10:27 Nikka Museum
13:12 Otaru
13:53 Nikka Bar Rita
17:37 Tokyo Whisky Library
23:07 Outro

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Do you know who the father of Japanese whiskey is his name is masataka taketsuru and he is the founder of Japan’s top quality whiskey naika and it’s all made right here in the town of yoi at the NAA Distillery so let’s head to The Distillery because it’s really

Cold outside and let’s see what n whiskey is all about C before we go don’t forget to subscribe for more Japan Adventures let’s Go yoi is a town located on the northernmost island of Hokkaido in Japan the town’s natural environment with cold Winters and sea breezes contributes to the distinct character of the whiskies produced here at The yoi Distillery teitu studied the art of whiskey making in Scotland in 1918 so with the support

Of his Scottish wife Rita who he met in Scotland they founded NAA whiskey in 1934 The Distillery is right here so let’s go inside and learn all about the incredible naika whiskey welcome to Whiskey thank you so much nice to meet you nice to meet you okay let’s go check out the the

Facilities here let’s Go oh my goodness this is a really comfortable chair I don’t know if I’m worthy to be sitting in this chair but I do feel very honored good to go let’s go all right let’s go we’re going to see how the barrels are Made wow For oh it smells extremely strong I feel like I’m breathing in alcohol it’s that strong good that’s Cy look at the color the SM oh my gosh after burning it with that enormous fire it actually doesn’t have that strong alcohol smell anymore can you see me it doesn’t have that strong alcohol

Smell anymore it smells kind of sweet like honey and I guess the more it sits the more honey like it gets so now that they’ve cleaned it out by burning the heck out of it they’re going to put the the bottom of the barrel back

On so now the bottom of is back on it’s not going to leak they use totally natural materials like they did in the old days and it doesn’t leak it’s incredible craftsmanship all right so next we’re going to go to the distilling room and see how the whiskey is actually Distilled oh you can see the fire inside take a look I think that’s really really a beautiful thing and I love how Scottish whiskey has blended with some Japanese values as well and that’s displayed right here Beautiful we are here now at restaurant Rita’s kitchen this is a restaurant right in The Distillery grounds and as I mentioned earlier takitsu was married to a Scottish lady named Rita so that’s who it’s named after they actually got married in 1920 in Scotland and then

They came back to Japan to establish a whiskey industry here and Rita’s support and their relationship was cons considered a vital part in developing the whiskey industry that we know now today in Hokkaido so this restaurant was made in homage to Rita and her original recipes cuz she also loved to cook and

Apparently you can try some of her original recipes inside so I can’t wait to try them let’s go inside and that must be Rita Cohen herself the mother of Japanese whiskey I would like to call her so at this restaurant they have a lot of Rita’s original recipes so let’s see what kind

Of recipes she serves here this looks like a traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner plate it looks very home-cooked I think I’m going to have to get one of these to try one of her original recipes and this one looks really awesome it’s a Hokkaido pork that’s been cooked in naika apple cider

Cuz this Factory used to make apple cider and apple juice as well back in the day so let’s try the MAA cider pork as well these recipes are supposed to be enjoyed with a glass of Mika whiskey of course I’m going to get the cranes bouquet so it is basically a takitsu

Pure malt base whiskey with ginger ale and grenadine syrup cheers to Rita that is super good even if you’re not a big whiskey Drinker like you find that the alcohol is too strong I think this is probably the perfect balance of being able to get a real taste of the

Whiskey you get that like Smokey fragrance from the whiskey but you also get this wonderful sweet fruity syrup this is a pot still or it’s made to look like a pot still which is used to distill Liquors like whiskey or brandy let’s open it up and see what’s

Inside apparently it has actually been smoked in smoke that has been made with the wood chips that they use to fire the whiskey this is a cracker sandwich with smoked cream cheese inside and it seems to have some shiokara inside um shiokara is basically squid inerts or fish inerts

Which sounds unappetizing maybe but it’s a very common drinking snack in Japan and this is a whiskey Distillery so I think re has combined a variety of Japanese recipes and classic Scottish recipes let’s see how it tastes M that is smokiness to a level you’ve never experienced before you

Wouldn’t notice the shokata really at all it just adds a little bit of a almost smoked salmony kind of uh taste to it here is Rita’s home recipe her very own recipe for roast chicken cannot wait to dig in M so fragrant the herbs that they use

That she uses in this chicken really fragrant it’s so good it’s so flavorful all right now it’s time to try the pork spare rib that has been simmered and stewed for a very long time in NAA apple cider oh wao that is super super good the meat

Is really juicy and because it’s been stewed in the apple cider it has this wonderful Apple sweet taste crispy garlic is a really nice touch it’s just sweet and tender super juicy this is definitely a must Try we are now inside of the naika whiskey Museum it’s a gorgeous Museum and here they have a tasting bar where you can actually try real naika whiskey that has been made right here at the Distillery so it’s now tasting time but I want to know the difference between these two All right let’s give it a try it smells delicious it smells really sweet I’m just going to take a small sip to really Savor the flavor here we go cheers There no I really surprised at how sweet it is sweet and kind of like a like a sweet syrup it’s got a high amount of alcohol but it’s still really easy to drink so now I want to try this really high-end whiskey that’s been around for

A long time apparently um we’re going to try sudu M it’s actually not as strong my goodness it’s so smooth this one is a lot less thick probably because it’s Blended so it’s a little bit more liquidy but it still has a very smooth subtle woodsy flavor but not overly

Sweet it’s so difference to see the difference between a single cask and a blend and also taste the difference so tastings here at this bar or a lot of fun if you’re a whiskey fan I learned so much today and this was so much fun thank you thank you this was

Such an amazing experience and I felt so much history visiting the Nika Distillery here today it’s amazing that some of the buildings are still standing since the 1930s if you guys ever want to try some incredible whiskies this is the place to do it you can learn so much you

Can taste whiskies but you cannot taste anywhere else so definitely come check this place out but I’m going to go to one last place today where you can also try some really amazing n whiskey I have arrived now in otaru city and I’m at a popular drinking alley

Called dini koi and it was designed to look like Colonial Hokkaido it’s home to around 20 Food Shops and bars and it’s a very popular place to drink so my next stop is actually going to be a bar right inside so let’s go inside denoi here we are now at mikab bar Rita

And yes you guessed it this is a bar that’s dedicated in homage to Rita Cohen takit sud’s wife and her role in creating Japanese whiskey and this is a very popular bar for whiskey lovers to come enjoy whiskey and I think I’d like to go inside and enjoy a drink and maybe

Give a toast to Rita herself let’s go inside for for But first before we eat let’s start with the drinks so this is the Woody and Vanilla single malt yoichi cheers Toita oh that’s smooth and Smokey M and I can taste the vanilla flavor it is really as it’s described Woody and vanilla now I’d like to try the Petey and salty single malt yoichi whiskey this one is a very unique flavor so I want to really make sure that I can

Savor it so that’s why I got it as a whiskey and water so let’s give it a try I’m not an expert taster of whiskey by any means but you do get this wonderful smokey Woody taste but it’s just a lot more subtle and gentle this is definitely a

Whole new world for whiskey lovers the fact you can try all of these types of whiskies here this is a lot of fun but it’s even more fun to be able to taste it with some snacks I’ve never had a smoked scallop before so let’s give it a Taste wow that’s really really good it’s very meaty and it also has a little bit of a tastes like smoked cheese goes so well with the drink man Smokey and Smokey it’s so interesting how food paring can change how you can enjoy your drinks so there you have it they have an

Incredibly wide array of Ni whiskies here so if you’re a whiskey lover this is definitely the place for you to come but if you thought we were done here we’re not because I’m actually going to fly back to Tokyo and I’m going to check out a bar in Tokyo that serves n whiskey

For those of you guys who can’t fly all the way out to Hokkaido so I’ll see you guys in Tokyo woo all right I am back in Tokyo that was such a fun trip but I’m actually not done yet I’m in the stylish area of the city called omot Sando and I

Hear that there’s a really really cool Whiskey Bar in this area that I need to check out so let’s go take a look and try one last drink in the city and have a bite to eat W here it is this is Tokyo Whiskey Library look at this incredible

Entrance such a great atmosphere this is a really popular and stylish whiskey bar here in omot Sando and apparently they have over a thousand types of whiskey and they also do whiskey and food pairings which I think is going to be super awesome but I’m here to try their

Ni whiskey in particular so let’s go take a look [Laughter] Inside half It there’s fresh pear in here um I’ve never had a whiskey and pear pairing before so I’m excited to try This Oh my goodness that is beautiful the flavors are dancing in my mouth and what I love about it is you can really taste the whiskey there’s nothing covering up the whiskey whatsoever but the pear is so gently sweet it really balances out the flavors it even brings out some of the flavors

Of the whiskey all right let’s give this kacho a try M that is so delicious it’s got this wonderful herbal aromatic flavor floral accents and a little bit of this subtle citrusy taste in the back and of course the Sashimi is so light and almost almost a little bit juicy it’s really

Really good let’s pair it Together M oh that’s so good every time that really hits I think it’s the slight hint of citrus and fru from the pear that goes so well with the lemony oil on top and also the floral hints they all Balan so beautifully wow she so I’m actually blown away by

How beautiful this is it actually has little Rainbow crystals in this beautiful ice and in this gorgeous glass very interesting I think is my first time having a half Rock whiskey I’ve only had I think on the rocks or with water M it is just easy enough to drink

So you can still enjoy those really beautiful notes of the whiskey while it being just smooth and cold this looks amazing Let’s uh give it a try and then we’ll see how it matches with the yoichi Whiskey oh my goodness that is so flavorful I think it’s a very it’s a very uh beautiful way of cooking the meat it’s just um kind of medium rare enough you can get a little bit of that truly meaty flavor and the creamy white wine sauce in the back it just adds this

Layer of creaminess they all balance together so beautifully they’re still sitting on my tongue so I think it’s this is the right time to have a little sip of whiskey to go with it m that is super good with each bite and all the flavors in the dish it does

Bring out more qualities of the whiskey and you can really feel more of that Smoky flavor in the whiskey now just adds extra smokiness to this thick chewy cut of beef this dish is absolutely amazing but if you’re a true whiskey lover you might also want to tr try

Their whiskey flight and they also change up what’s available on the flight monthly so definitely come check this place out if you guys are ever in Tokyo in omot Sando this trip has been so much fun I really really had an amazing time in yoi and otu getting to check out The yoichi Distillery where all of the whiskey magic happens I get to see where how whiskey is made try it right there on

The spot and even check out the Rita bar and then of course to come back to Tokyo and discover where you can enjoy some of the best whiskies in the city anyway this is all for my trip today and if you guys uh enjoyed it please don’t forget

To like comment share and subscribe and let me know in the comments down below what you guys liked most about my trip and what you guys want to try I’m going to finish off my delicious food and my drinks and I’ll see you guys in another video thanks so much bye cheers