[Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture] Excited! Enthusiasm! I do not want to return! Wonderful time and relaxation at Miyagikyo Distillery.

If you live in Miyagi and like alcohol, there's a good chance you've experienced the Miyagi Gorge Distillery Tour Guide, a free course.

If you ask everyone about the all-inclusive experience course, they say it quite often.

"Oh, I went there years ago. It's the best there, isn't it?"

I, too, have only been there more than 10 years ago, and my only memories are of ``That place is such a nice place!''

So I went there while searching for past memories! Miyagikyo Distillery!

I love drinking whisky, but I don't know much about it, so I can't really talk about it to anyone, so I'd like to briefly explain the wonders of Miyagikyo Distillery.

Miyagikyo Distillery is located at 1 Nikka, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

Miyagikyo Distillery is located deep in the mountains of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, on the way to Sakunami Onsen.

As the name suggests, the distillery is located in Miyagi Gorge, in a place surrounded by nature between Shinkawa and Hirose River.

The reason why there is a distillery here is that Nikka Whiskey founder, the late Masataka Taketsuru, visited this area, Miyagi Gorge, in May 1962, drew the clear stream of Shinkawa, and said, ``Hey, bring me some whisky.'' He said, ``Come on,'' and poured whiskey into a glass and drank the water mixed with water from the river.He was astonished by the clear and refined taste, and decided to build a factory in Sendai, following Yoichi, Hokkaido. is.

An encounter that feels like something out of a fairy tale.

We can imagine that the late Masataka, who had been searching all over the Tohoku region, must have felt an immeasurable feeling.

First, check in at the visitor center!

When you arrive at Miyagikyo Distillery, first check in at the visitor center.

Free courses can be viewed on the day if space is available.

If you are a group, it may be difficult to make a reservation on the day, so please be sure to make a reservation at least one day in advance.

Let's go on a tour of the distillery!

Since I was alone that day, I was able to easily enter the tour course.

A guide will always be there for you on your free tour.

We've just started, but have you noticed anything when you look at this photo?

That's right, there are no above-ground electrical wires inside the distillery.

This is because when the late Masataka Taketsuru started construction of the Miyagikyo Distillery, he said, ``Do not destroy the scenery, but work in harmony with nature.''

That's what made me think, ``It's so clean and all the buildings blend into the landscape.''

You can see how the late Masataka Taketsuru wanted to coexist with nature.

Managed by the latest computers, we are finally at the distillery facility!

The first thing you will see when you enter the distillery is the central control room. There are no photos posted here as photography is prohibited here, but it is exactly like the fire department or the monitors you see in TV dramas lined up.

24The distillery is monitored on a regular basis, and it is precisely because of this control room that high-quality whiskey is produced.

There is a preparation building next to the latest computer management facility!

Here, ``saccharification and fermentation'' before distilling whiskey takes place, and it is managed by the latest computers from the central control room that we visited earlier.

The saccharified liquid with a sugar content 13 added, and fermentation takes 72 turning it into a beer-like liquid with an alcohol content of 7 to 8 This is then transferred to the distillation process.

The biggest difference between Yoichi Distillery and Miyagikyo Distillery is in the pot still! Let's go to the distillation building!

The highlight of the tour course is this pot still.

Actually, the shape of this pot still is different between Yoichi and Miyagi Gorge.

Yoichi uses a straight head type, which is characterized by its ability to produce aromatic and powerful malt, while Miyagikyo uses a bulge type (ball type), which has holes in the bottom of the pot still and inside the pot. Steam is passed through a vertical pipe and the product is slowly distilled at approximately 130°C, which is lower than direct coal-fired distillation.

``Miyagikyo Malt'' is created using equipment and methods that are the opposite of Yoichi's.

Its gorgeous, fruity aroma and easy-drinking, mellow taste are sure to expand the base of whiskey fans.

The following is an easy-to-understand diagram taken from the NIKKA WHISKY official website Please use this as a reference.

When you leave the distillery building, you will see a strange tree growing behind the distillery building.

This is not photogenic, shadow, soot, or ash.

In fact, it seems that microorganisms that react with alcohol turn the wood black.

Although I wasn't able to get close, I was amazed by the power of nature.

Finally, the second half of the tour course begins, and we head to the storage room, which is sure to make a great photo!

Wow, I get excited when I see this picture.

I want to live here already.

Yes, the finished whiskey will remain here for a long time.

The inside of the storage room is cool and the rich aroma induces an indescribable feeling of elation.

You can feel that the words of the late Masataka Taketsuru, ``Whiskey is nurtured by nature,'' still hold true today.

Honestly, I just want to take home a barrel.

And finally! Tasting and shopping at the guest hall! !

At the end, you can sample in the guest hall.

three of wine for free: Miyagikyo, Super Nikkalea Old, and Apple Wine .

I wasn't able to sample the wine because I had to drive, but I was able to receive a thorough tasting lecture, and they also provided free carbonated drinks, Miyagi Gorge water, and ice, so it was a perfect experience. It's exhausting.

Ah, I wanted to drink it.

Don't worry if you can't sample whiskey. Apple juice and tea are also available for minors and drivers!

Finish off with some shopping。

Miyagikyo Distillery has a purchasing office attached to the guest hall, where you can of course shop.

The biggest feature is that you can purchase various types of whiskey at regular prices, which have been rising in price due to the recent popularity of whiskey, and you can also purchase single malts that are exclusive to Miyagi Gorge.

If the timing is right, you may or may not be able to purchase rare varieties that are not seen on the market at regular prices.

summary

The whole course, including tasting, will take about 45 minutes.

After all, it is rich in nature and is it really a 30 minute drive from Sendai Station? That's what I really mean.

Miyagi Gorge, which is sandwiched between the Shinkawa and Hirose Rivers, is often shrouded in morning mist and is rich in nature, making it the perfect place to make whisky.

It's also a great place for families to travel.

Isn't this a good place for those who want to change the atmosphere and refresh their mind?

Tours and parking are free. As I said many times, it was a great place.

Did you know? ranks second in Japan in per capita whiskey consumption after Tokyo