Nikka Whisky was founded by Masataka Taketsuru, the Father of Japanese whisky. Aspiring to create “genuine” whisky in Japan, Masataka set off alone to Scotland in 1918 to gain the knowledge needed to achieve his goal. Arriving in Scotland, he enrolled at The University of Glasgow and studied chemistry, before landing an apprenticeship at three different Scotch distilleries. Filling his notebook with the wealth of information he had learned, Masataka headed back home to Japan with his wife Rita. He was immediately hired and helped build Yamazaka distillery, where he stayed for 10 years. He branched out on his own, heading north to Yoichi and building Yoichi Distillery in 1934.
The Coffey still was created in 1830 by Aeneas Coffey and was the world’s first patented continuous still. Masataka Taketsuru had the opportunity to distill grain in a Coffey still while studying whisky-making in Scotland. Although the stills are not the most efficient, he saw the value in them in the spirit created by using them. Coffey stills retain flavour from the ingredients used as well as having a signature creamy texture.