Nikka Whisky History
History of Masataka Taketsuru and Nikka Whisky
- 1894
- Born into a sake brewing family in Hiroshima on June 20.
- 1916
- Graduated from Osaka Technical (High School) where he majored in brewing. Entered Settsu Shuzo Company in Osaka.
- 1918
- Embarked for Scotland via U.S.A.
- 1918
- Arrived in Scotland and enrolled at the University of Glasgow in December.
- 1919
- Apprenticed at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside to learn malt whisky production.
- 1919
- Apprenticed at James Calder in Bo’ness to learn Coffey grain whisky.
- 1920
- Married Rita on January 8.
- 1920
- Apprenticed at Hazelburn Distillery in Cambeltown to learn malt whisky production and blending.
- 1920
- Returned to Japan with Rita in November.
- 1922
- Left Settsu Shuzo Company since the plan to produce whisky was abandoned.
- 1923
- Entered Kotobukiya Limited (Suntory) with a 10-year contract.
- 1923
- Directed to build Yamazaki Distillery, the first whisky distillery in Japan, and engaged in whisky production.
- 1934
- Left Kotobukiya in March.
- 1934
- Established Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. on July 2.
- 1936
- Yoichi Distillery started distillation.
- 1940
- The first whisky “NIKKA WHISKY” launched.
- 1949
- Takeshi Taketsuru, Masataka’s nephew and adopted son, entered Nikka Whisky.
- 1952
- The corporate name Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. was altered to The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.
- 1961
- Rita died on January 17 at the age of 64.
- 1963
- The first Coffey Still was imported from Scotland and installed at Asahi Breweries’ Nishinomiya plant to produce grain whisky. (The Coffey Stills were transferred to Miyagikyo Distillery in 1999.)
- 1966
- The second Coffey Still was installed.
- 1967
- Kashiwa bottling plant completed.
- 1969
- Miyagikyo Distillery completed in April and started distillation.
- 1977
- Tochigi plant completed.
- 1979
- Masataka died on August 29 at the age of 85.
