Description
Story of Masataka Taketsuru and Nikka Whiskey
- 1894 Born into a brewing family in Hiroshima on June 20.
- 1916 Graduated from Osaka Technical (High School), where he majored in beer. Joined the Settsu Shuzo Company in Osaka.
- 1918 Shipped to Scotland via USA
- 1918 Arrived in Scotland and enrolled at the University of Glasgow in December.
- 1919 Apprentice at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside to learn malt whiskey production.
- 1919 Apprenticed to James Calder at Bo'ness to learn Coffey grain whisky.
- 1920 Married Rita on January 8th.
- 1920 Apprentice at Hazelburn Distillery in Cambeltown to learn the production and blending of malt whiskey.
- 1920 Returned to Japan with Rita in November.
- 1922 Left the Settsu Shuzo Company since the whiskey production plan was abandoned.
- 1923 Joined Kotobukiya Limited (Suntory) on a 10-year contract.
- 1923 Directed the construction of the Yamazaki Distillery, the first whiskey distillery in Japan, and engaged in whiskey production.
- 1934 Left Kotobukiya in March.
- 1934 Established Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. on July 2nd.
- 1936 Yoichi Distillery began distillation.
- 1940 Launch of the first whiskey “NIKKA WHISKEY”.
- 1949 Takeshi Taketsuru, Masataka's nephew and adopted son, joined Nikka Whiskey.
- 1952 The company name Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. was changed to The Nikka Whiskey 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 the Asishi Breweries factory in Nishinomiya to produce grain whiskey. (Coffey Stills were transferred to Miyagikyo Distillery in 1999.)
- 1966 The second Coffey Still was installed.
- 1967 Kashiwa bottling plant completed.
- 1969 The Miyagikyo Distillery was completed in April and began distilling.
- 1977 Tochigi plant completed.
- 1979 Masataka died on August 29 at age 85.
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