Metabev Partners With Nikka Whisky
The Hong Kong-based importer and distributor Metabev has partnered with Nikka Whisky, adding its products to its portfolio. Masataka Taketsuru founded Nikka Whisky following a trip to Scotland to study whisky making in 1918.
Taketsuru studied chemistry in Scotland and apprenticed at three distilleries. He returned to Japan with his wife, Jessie Roberta (Rita) in 1920. Within 20 years, he established Yamazaki Distillery, the first whisky distillery in Japan. This is where Nikka was born.
With two distilleries, Nikka has become Japan’s second-largest distiller, producing a wide variety of single malts and blended whiskies. The original Yoichi distillery was built in 1934 on Japan’s northern island, close to the sea and surrounded by mountains on three sides.
Metabev Cements Partnership With Nikka Whisky
In 1967, Nikka built its second distillery in Miyagikyo, a glen surrounded by mountains and two rivers.
Roger Chan, Chairman, of Metagroup, commented: “The Metabev team is truly excited and looks forward to a successful, long-term partnership with Nikka Whisky. As their exclusive partner for Hong Kong and Macau, this furthers our aim to offer our customers the very finest selection of whiskies available.
“We know that Nikka has the most stringent criteria when selecting brand partners and are honored to be trusted by the Nikka team with their incredible brand and whiskies.”
The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. Ltd., owned by Asahi Group Holdings, is the largest producer of Japanese whisky in the world. It has its headquarters in Tokyo and produces Japanese whisky, along with other beverages.
The company operates a number of distilleries and other facilities in Japan, including the Miyagikyo distillery in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and Northern Honshū (established in 1969). It also owns the Ben Nevis Distillery (acquired in 1989) in Scotland.
Metabev is an Asian distributor specializing in importation, distribution, and brand management with over 30 years of history. They focus on beer, spirits, and coffee, among other products.