by Aris Sklavenitis

A favorite drink around the world is whisky, we all have it in our minds connected to the regions of Scotland and Ireland, with the first official records going back to 1405. Its production takes years of aging, patience and art.

In 1918 a young Japanese man, born and raised in a family Sake Brewery, decided to travel alone to Scotland to learn this art and the secrets of whiskey production, this young man was Masataka Taketsuru, founder of Nikka Whiskey and the father of Japanese Whiskey. His first studies were in brewing in Osaka, while he also studied Chemistry at the University of Glasgow. He then went as an apprentice to three Scottish distilleries, where he recorded the production method in every detail.

In 1920 he decided to return to Japan, together with his wife (they met and  got married in Scotland), in order to make his dream come true. The trip to Scotland was financed by the company Settsu Shuzo, with the aim of creating the first Japanese Whisky. The recession of World War I forced the company to abandon this plan. At the same time, another company, Kotobukiya Limited (now known to everyone as Suntory), was looking for someone with “know how” in whiskey production. So in 1923, he hired him as Japan’s only whiskey connoisseur to help set up the Yamazaki distillery.

After the 10-year contract with Suntory in 1934, he decided to start his own distillery (NIKKA WHISKEY) in the Hokkaido region, an ideal place with a similar terroir to that of Scotland. The company began to produce apple products under the brand “Dai Nippon Kaju”, while at the same time preparing the ground for the production of whisky, with the first distillation in 1936 and in 1940 bringing it to the market under the name Nikka Whiskey (from the initials of the words Nippon Kaju), where the company was subsequently renamed. Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky, is a spirit in honor of the founder and father of Japanese Whisky, Masataka Taketsuru. Pure Malt, is a blend of different malts, with an alcohol percentage of 43%, this expression was re-launched in 2020 with a new label. A highly balanced spirit, with well-integrated alcohol, aromas of spices, fresh stone fruits, flowers, caramel and vanilla.

Score: 19.5/20

20 – Really excellent
19 – Top wine

18 – A superior quality wine with particular depth
17 – A superior quality wine
16 – A high quality wine with aging potential
15 – A wine that is pleasant to drink without flaws

Aris Sklavenitis
Best Sommelier of Greece 2016/2019/2023