Japan, Miyagi. Distillery operational. Owner: Nikka Whisky Distilling (Asahi)The younger sister of the legendary Yoichi distillery, Miyagikyo is the second distillery of the Nikka Whisky Distilling company, which was founded in 1934 (Dai Nippon Kaju Kabushiki Kaisha) by Masataka Taketsuru. The distillery was completed in 1969 on the main island of Honshu, in the Miyagi Prefecture and distilled its first malt in the same year. Futuristic and resolutely modern, it is home to several Coffey stills for the production of grain whisky, as well as the malt whisky used in the group's blends. More niche than its older sister, the versatility of Miyagikyo's character nonetheless makes it an appealing malt. It ranges from a soft, floral and fruity register to the more woody, spicy and sometimes smoky aromas commonly found in Yoichi.

A Miyagikyo 20 Year Old distilled in 1989 from a blend of four malt whiskies. Several cask types were used for maturation. Nikka has released several editions of vintage Yoichi and Miyagikyo 20 year olds: nine for Yoichi, ranging from 1984 to 1990, and just three for Miyagikyo, from the vintages 1988, 1989 and 1990.