Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky 45% Vol. 0,7l

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky is an exceptional Japanese whisky made from 100% malted barley, yet it differs fundamentally from classic single malt in terms of distillation. Instead of the usual pot stills, Nikka Whisky uses traditional Coffey stills—continuous distillation stills whose design dates back to the apparatus patented by Aeneas Coffey in 1830. Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru, became familiar with this distillation method as early as 1919 during his stay in Scotland. The two Coffey stills that are now characteristic of Nikka were brought from Scotland to Japan in 1963 and 1966. Although these historic stills are relatively complex and inefficient to operate, Nikka values them particularly for their ability to preserve the character of the raw materials and produce distillates with a distinctive creamy texture.

Nikka Coffey Malt is the result of ongoing experimentation by Japanese whiskey producers and was developed in 2013. After the whiskey—made exclusively from malted barley—is distilled in Coffey stills, it is aged in older barrels to specifically highlight its malty character, complexity, and silky texture. An important distinction concerns its classification: Although it is made exclusively from 100% malted barley, Coffey Malt is classified as a grain whiskey rather than a malt whiskey under Japanese regulations due to its distillation in a continuous Coffey still. At 45% ABV in a 0.7-liter bottle, this bottling is thus an unusual combination of pure barley malt and traditional continuous-still distillation.