Nikka Whisky Distillery to Expand Whisky Production
To mark Nikka Whisky Distilling Co.’s 90th anniversary, Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. will launch The Nikka Nine Decades premium whisky. The spirit is a commemorative 700-milliliter bottle of whisky marking the distiller’s 90th anniversary. Nikka Whisky dates back to 1934, when its predecessor, Dai Nippon Kaju Co., was established on July 2.
Nikka Nine Decades features more than 150 unblended whiskies from nine decades, from the 1940s to the 2020s. According to Nikka’s announcement on Wednesday, the whisky offers a rich and mellow aroma and a strong flavor.
2,000 bottles of the Nikka Nine Decades will be released on July 2 and the rest in October. Nikka Nine Decades will be sold mostly in bars and hotels.
Nikka Whisky Distillery to Expand Whisky Production
In addition, Nikka, a subsidiary of Asahi Breweries, Ltd., has announced plans to boost its whisky production. The distillery will invest about 6 billion Yen into its manufacturing facilities and ease a shortage of single barrel whiskies.
This investment will be used to build a new whisky barrel storage facility and buy barrels for the distiller’s Tochigi factory. The storage facility will be operational in September, increasing the distiller’s storage capacity by 10%.
Furthermore, the company had spent about 12 billion Yen on strengthening their whisky production between 2015 and 2021. During a recent press conference in Tokyo, Nikka Breweries’ president, Kazuo Matsuyama, said: “There’s no prospect for resolving the shortage of single barrel whisky. We’ll continue to invest in facilities beyond 2025.”
According to Nikka, whisky sales worldwide should grow by two to three percent annually between 2023 and 2040. For 2040 and beyond, Nikka plans to increase annual domestic and overseas sales to four times what they were in 2023.
Nikka Whisky President Tamesada Kazutomo believes that Japanese whiskies are recognized as one of the top five in the world. He says Nikka Whisky plans to strengthen its position by offering premium whiskies that a wide audience can enjoy.
Meanwhile, Suntory plans to invest about 64 million dollars in distilleries in Osaka and Yamanashi prefectures over the next two years.