Not many Japanese whiskies have the pedigree and price to compete with Nikka Miyagikyo. It’s a readily available and affordable classic brand. And it’s actually made in Japan. 

In this review, I discuss how this whisky is made and what it tastes like. After that, I dive deeper and explore how much it costs, where to buy for the best price, some excellent alternative brands, and more. 

So let’s get started with an introduction. 

About Nikka Miyagikyo Whisky

Nikka Miyagikyo is a single malt from Miyagi, Japan. And this non-age statement whisky shares its name with the distillery. 

Nikka used to make a variety of age-statement Miyagikyo whiskies. But those have all been discontinued, and the NAS and some limited releases are all that’s left. 

Luckily, this is an excellent Japanese whisky. It’s known for its light, fruity, and elegant profile. Miyagikyo has a touch of peated malt in the mix, but it’s not as smoky as its sibling Yoichi.

After distillation, Miyagikyo sees a lot of time in ex-Sherry casks. And there’s a little ex-Bourbon cask influence for added complexity. Miyagikyo single malt is not an oaky whisky, however. Instead, it has a style similar to old-school single malt Scotch whiskies. 

One thing I love about Nikka Miyagikyo is its price. It’s not cheap compared to many similar Scotch whiskies, but it’s a better deal than most brands from Japan.

How to Pronounce Miyagikyo

Miyagikyo doesn’t exactly roll off the tongues of native English speakers. Check out the pronunciation below, as it’s spot-on.  

The word Miyagikyo (宮城峡) comes from the prefecture Miyagi (宮城) and kyo (峡). This latter word refers to the Miyagikyo distillery’s steep, mountain valley location. The site was chosen by Masataka Taketsuru because of the excellent water and ideal climate.

Technical Info

• Non-peated and lightly-peated malt
• 45% ABV
• Age: NAS 
• Oak Treatment: ex-Sherry plus ex-Bourbon

Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt NAS Tasting Notes

Nikka Miyagikyo looks good in the glass and has a peachy amber color. 

It’s an aromatic single malt with lots of fruity and floral qualities. Notes include pear, peach, lemon and orange zest, fresh flowers, honey, grainy malt, almond, cinnamon, clove, and a touch of caramel. 

On the palate, Nikka Miyagikyo has a semi-sweet impression. It’s soft-textured and medium-bodied. And the finish has a light burn. Specific tasting notes include more peaches and pears, honeyed malt, pecan, dark chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. It also has a hint of smoke and brine. 

Overall, Miyagikyo is satisfying and complex. There is a little fiery youth within too, but it still has a lot of depth. 

I’ll go over some of its main competitors in a bit. But first, let’s dive into Nikka Miyagikyo’s price.

Nikka Miyagikyo Price 

In this section, I’ll explore the price range of Miyagikyo NAS single malt for retail and bars. 

Retail Pricing

The price range of Nikka Miyagikyo 750ml at retail shops in the US is around $80 to $130 pre-tax. Right now (early 2022), the $100 price point is common. But this could certainly increase–and fast. 

Depending on your perspective, you might consider Miyagikyo a great deal or overpriced. I’d argue it’s a little of both. And like most Japanese whiskies, Miyagikyo has a wide range of prices. Some retailers will rip you off. And others just want to move product. 

Compared to more famous names like Yamazaki and Hakushu, Nikka Miyagikyo is often a pretty good deal. And I’ll dive more into this topic deeper in this article. 

Miyagikyo at Restaurants and Bars 

If you haven’t tasted Nikka Miyagikyo yet, a bar or restaurant is a great place to start. With most whiskies, retail prices are a much better deal than on-premise. But that’s often not the case with Japanese whisky. 

For a 1.5-ounce pour of Miyagikyo NAS Single Malt, expect to pay between $14.25 and $28.53. Most of the time, you’re going to see prices in the middle to lower end of this range. 

How did I come up with these prices? 

Well, wholesale pricing of this whisky ranges from around $65-$80. I assumed an average wholesale price of $72.50 per 750ml bottle. From there I calculated a variety of common costs (15% cost = $28.53, 20% cost = $21.40, 25% cost = $17.12, 30% cost = $14.27). 

This is gotten a little technical, so if you want to know more about calculating cost (and profit), let me know in the comments section. 

Shopping for Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt

Finding Miyagikyo is easier than ever. There are several options, depending on your goals. Here I include tips on where to track a bottle down locally. And you can also shop around for the best price online. 

Where to Find Nikka Miyagikyo Near Me?

Do you want a bottle of Nikka Miyagikyo right now? If you’re in a city, you probably have plenty of options. Large retailers like Costco, Total Wine, Bevmo, and Bennys often stock Miyagikyo. And they often have low markups. 

Asian grocers like Uwajimaya and H Mart are also good places to look. However, I find these stores often charge more per bottle. Smaller liquor stores, on the other hand, sometimes have great deals. You’ll just have to search around more to find them. 

If you’re only looking for a glass of Miyagikyo, many Japanese restaurants and bars stock it. And so do many bars with large spirits selections. 

Find Nikka Miyagikyo Online

If you have time, the best deals are usually online. Many shops offer delivery. And in some locations, this might be your only choice. Below are some online retailers that deliver. Please be sure to shop around for the best price and don’t overpay. 

I’m also an affiliate advertiser for some of these companies and earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Similar or Competing Whiskies

Miyagikyo is often compared to other marquee Japanese whiskies. And it’s also worth exploring how it compares to Scotch. 

Miyagikyo vs Yoichi

Yoichi vs. Miyagikyo is the first place to start. Nikka Yoichi was the company’s first distillery. It was designed to make whisky similar to peaty, smoky Scotch. And that style holds to this day. 

Miyagikyo is Nikka’s second distillery. Its purpose is to produce fruitier and lighter whiskies.

The average age, alcohol content, and price for Miyagikyo and Yoichi are basically the same. But Yoichi is a more robust, smoky, and herbal whisky. Miyagikyo is a lot softer, fruitier, and elegant. It also only has a hint of peat influence. 

Both whiskies are delicious. And if you can, I recommend you taste them side by side.  

Check out my Nikka Yoichi review to learn more about this iconic whisky.

Miyagikyo vs Yamazaki

Comparing Yamazaki and Miyagikyo single malts make a lot of sense.

Yamazaki is the most famous distillery from Nikka’s archrival Suntory. And the two competing distilleries also share some history (more on that later).

Yamazaki 12-Year Aged Single Malt is the most direct competitor of Miyagikyo NAS Single Malt. Both whiskies are fruity, soft, smooth, and complex. But you wouldn’t mistake them if tasted side by side.

In terms of flavor, the Yamazaki has a richer profile. It also uses some Mizunara Japanese oak, which imparts a spicy, incense, and sandalwood quality. Miyagikyo’s Sherry cask aging tastes much nuttier and subdued. 

The Yamazaki 12 also has no peat character, whereas the Miyagikyo has some though it’s faint. 

Finally, the Yamazaki 12-year is often more expensive. The average price of a 750ml bottle retail is $150+ pre-tax. And that would be a great deal. 

Miyagikyo vs Hibiki

Hibiki vs. Miyagikyo isn’t a comparison I would generally make. Hibiki is a blended whisky, and Miyagikyo is a single malt. However, many people ask about these two, so I’m covering it anyway. 

Pricewise, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is often around the same price as Miyagikyo NAS Single Malt. Both are non-age statement whiskies. Each is also elegant, complex, floral, and smooth.  

But because of the high demand for anything Hibiki, it has a wider range of prices and can be harder to find. Unscrupulous retailers are way less likely to price gouge a Miyagikyo. 

And like the Yamazaki whiskies, Hibiki’s stuff has some Mizunara influence. But there’s a huge range of cask types used to age it. This is one reason why people love it because it makes for a complex profile. 

Miyagikyo is more singular in its aroma and flavor. It’s fruity, nutty, smooth, and light. Oak influence just isn’t that strong with this single malt. 

I love both of these whiskies. But it’s like comparing apples to oranges. 

Scotch Whiskies Alternatives

The whole Japanese whisky industry is based on Scotch. Furthermore, the father of Japanese whisky and Nikka’s founder, Masataka Taketsuru, designed it this way. 

So if you’re looking for the perfect alternative to Nikka Miyagikyo, Scotch is where I recommend you look. The qualities of these whiskies are just as good. And they’re often much more affordable! 

The first whisky that comes to mind is Glenmorangie “Original.” Like Miyagikyo, Glenmorangie has very tall stills which produce lighter whiskies. The flavor profiles of both are similar too. The main difference is the vanilla and caramel ex-Bourbon influence of the Highlands-distilled Glenmorangie. Well, and the price. Because Glenmorangie Original costs about half as much as Miyagikyo. 

Glen Moray “Classic” is another excellent alternative to Miyagikyo. They both share a Sherry cask influence and a light, fruity profile. And this Speyside malt is even more affordable than Glenmorangie!

The final Glen alternative to Miyagikyo is Glengoyne 10 Year. This whisky comes from a unique distillery that straddles the border between the Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland. And this single malt is notable in its complete lack of peated malt. Short stills with an extended distillation time lead to a fruity and elegant flavor profile. It’s a very smooth Scotch and costs half as much as a bottle of Miyagikyo.

*As an affiliate advertiser for Etsy, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases.

About Nikka Whisky

As I mentioned earlier, Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka, is the godfather of Japanese whisky. He traveled to Scotland to learn how whisky was made and came back as Japan’s leader on the subject.

Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii hired Taketsuru to build the Yamazaki Distillery in Osaka. This was the country’s first legit whisky distillery. But after Yamazaki was complete, the two icons had a falling out.

Taketsuru went on to found the Dai Nippon Kaju, or “Great Japanese Juice Company,” in 1934. This Yoichi, Hokkaido facility would soon make whisky. And it released its first in 1940 under the brand Nikka Whisky.  

The company would eventually take on Nikka as its name. And in 1954, Asahi (the beer company) acquired Nikka, which allowed Taketsuru to focus on making the best whisky possible. 

After a lengthy search for the right location, Taketsuru founded the Miyagikyo Distillery outside Sendai, Miyagi. This large distillery would produce malt whisky, as well as grain whisky from two old-school Coffey stills. Miyagikyo went live in 1969.

And just a couple of years later, Nikka purchased the Ben Nevis distillery of Scotland. The company uses some of that whisky in its blends. Nikka From the Barrel is a famous example of this. 

Today, Nikka remains one of Japan’s two great whisky manufacturers. The other is Suntory, of course. And while Suntory has a little more fame and production volume, Nikka is just as good. 

Moving on from the history lesson, let’s dive into more details about the Miyagikyo Distillery. 

Want to learn more? My Nikka Whisky guide covers the history, distilleries, and brands of this prestigious company.

Nikka Miyagikyo Distillery

Miyagikyo is the bigger of Nikka’s two whisky distilleries. Its output is around three million liters of whisky per year.

The distillery houses 22 stainless steel washbacks and eight huge copper pot stills. These tall stills with tall lyne arms induce a lot of reflux. And rings inside the necks of the stills create even more relux. These characteristics lead to a lighter, smoother, and fruitier spirit. 

In addition, Miyagikyo’s stills are heated via indirect steam. It’s another reason for the light, clean nature of Miyagikyo whisky. And it’s in contrast to Nikka Yoichi’s direct fire coal pot stills that produce a robust, savory, and somewhat bitter spirit. 

Besides the pot stills, Miyagikyo has two Coffey stills. These old-school continuous columns make grain whisky, vodka, and gin. And the company also uses them for malt whisky (Nikka Coffey Malt). The hallmark of Coffey stills is the super creamy and smooth spirit they produce. 

Most of the whisky distilled at Miyagikyo ends up in ex-Sherry or Bourbon casks. Miyagikyo also has a modern cooperage for cask making and maintenance. And they age their whiskies in one of 16 dunnage-style warehouses. 

Discontinued and Limited Edition Miyagikyo Whiskies

The Miyagikyo NAS Single Malt is an excellent whisky. But if you’ve been around Japanese whisky for a while, you’ll remember the incredible age statements they used to produce. 

The Miyagikyo 10, 12, and 15 are all discontinued. But Nikka has hinted that age-statement Miyagikyo and Yoichi whiskies will return to their lineups relatively soon. God only knows how expensive they’ll be, but it’s exciting news. 

Currently, there are plenty of limited edition non-age statement whiskies coming out annually. Many focus on a specific cask finish. These include the Apple Brandy Finish, Moscatel Wood Finish, Manzanilla Wood Finish, and Rum Cask Finish. Each of these is very expensive, but I’ve been impressed with the few I’ve tasted. 

Finally, there are a few other Nikka Miyagikyo limited releases to look out for. The 2021 Miyagikyo Peated is part of the Discovery Series alongside a Non-Peated Yoichi. And in the recent past, Nikka released a Fruity and Rich Miyagikyo and a Malty and Soft Miyagikyo.

Nikka Miyagikyo Apple Brandy Wood Finish

Service Tips and Suggestions 

Below I’ll provide some recommendations for getting the most out of this malt whisky. 

How to Drink Nikka Miyagikyo

The purest way to taste Nikka Miyagikyo is neat. I prefer adding a few dashes of chilled water too. This mellows the whisky slightly and helps with tasting. 

An alternative to this is a single small ice cube in the whisky. The liquor on bar shelves is often warm. So the addition of the cube cools the whisky slightly and adds a light dilution. 

If you want to take more edge off of your drink, large ice cubes are very effective. They melt slowly and result in a cold drink. You will get more dilution with this method too, which can be an issue if you drink slowly. 

On the rocks will mellow Miyagikyo even more than a large cube. Again, be careful of excessive dilution unless it’s your goal.   

Finally, mizuwari is a classic way to serve Japanese whisky. It consists of whisky, ice, and water. Mizuwari yields a diluted whisky, so be careful. It’s perfect for cheaper whiskies, though.

Miyagikyo Cocktails

If you want to make a primo Japanese whisky cocktail, Miyagikyo is a fine choice. 

A Miyagikyo Highball can be outstanding. Take time to chill everything properly, though. And I also recommend against too much ice or sparkling water. But the lemon expressed over the drink marries with the citrusy notes in Miyagikyo. It’s a tasty combo.

I prefer boozier, whisky-forward cocktails that allow Miyagikyo to shine. The Old Fashioned and the Rob Roy come to mind. 

Finally, a Rusty Nail is a classic worth exploring if you’re adventurous. I prefer a 4:1 Nikka to Drambuie ratio, but a 2:1 ratio is also tasty (and sweet). 

What Do You Think?

Did I leave anything out? 

And what’s your opinion on Miyagikyo? I’d love to hear how you think it tastes, how it stacks up against the competition, and what you think of its pricing.