Miyagikyo Single Malt divides opinion, and after tasting it myself I think a lot of that comes down to how it’s served. Neat, it’s floral, fruity and sweet, with a smooth, soft texture and a palate that goes further than I expected — dark chocolate, dried fruit, toast, hay and a faint touch of smoke under the honey and apple. Its cask character is strong and a little unusual. Some drinkers describe a sulphur or rubber note; I didn’t find that significant in my bottle, though the flavor may have changed from earlier bottlings. What holds it back for me is a body on the thin side, a slight alcohol presence and a slightly bitter oak edge on the finish.
I’d drink it neat or on the rocks; in my tasting, water and soda both worked against it. When I reviewed it in Japan it sold for over ¥6,000, which felt like a lot for a no-age-statement bottle, even though it was one of the few Japanese single malts I could still find close to list price. For another bottle from the same producer, my Nikka Session review covers Nikka’s blended malt. For more, browse our Japanese Single Malt reviews.