Nikka Yoichi 10 Year Old Single Malt (70cl, 50%)

Yoichi 10 Year Old is a Japanese single malt from Nikka's first distillery, on the island of Hokkaido, in a 70cl bottle. Yoichi has made single malt there since the mid-1930s, distilling in small pot stills over coal fires, about a kilometre from the Sea of Japan. The spirit is shaped by light saltiness, oiliness and peat smoke of up to 20 ppm. This bottling is chill-filtered and has no added colouring. The nose is fresh and herbal, with apricot, banana and restrained peat leading into strong pastry notes. The palate is soft, lively and peppery, with the peat fading behind creamy pastry. The finish is long and dry, with earthy, maritime moorland notes set against oak.