Yoichi 12 Years Old

Yoichi 12 Years Old is a single malt from Nikka's Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido, distinguished here by a maturation involving white oak and Oloroso sherry casks alongside the standard bourbon wood. The sherry influence is a recurring thread in the Yoichi range, appearing in both standard expressions and special releases, where it adds dried fruit depth and a mellow sweetness to the distillery's robust, coal-fired base character.

The combination of white oak and sherry casks over 12 years in Hokkaido's maritime climate builds layers of walnut, dried apricot and dark spice over the peat smoke and firm malt that the direct-fired pot stills produce. Bottled at 45% for global markets, this variant of the 12 year expression shows a richer, more fruit-forward profile than the Ex-Bourbon-only version while retaining the Yoichi coastal weight.