Nikka Whisky Sendai Miyagikyo Distillery Visitor Center Entrance Hall

Masataka Taketsuru (founder of Nikka Whisky), who dreamed of creating authentic blended whisky in Japan, imported a "Coffey still" (a continuous distillation machine) from Scotland in 1963 to produce grain whisky for blending. The Coffey still, which had been in operation at the Miyagikyo Distillery for many years, will be retired in 2025 with the replacement of the world's first Japanese-made Coffey still. A part of it has now been moved to the entrance hall and put on display.

At Nikka Whisky Miyagikyo Distillery, in addition to making malt whisky using "pot stills," they also produce traditional grain whisky using the "Coffey still," which is rare worldwide.

In the entrance hall, which serves as the starting point for the tour, in addition to the existing display of a pot still, a display of a Coffey still was also required, symbolically showcasing the two types of distillation equipment.

The actual "Coffey still" that has been in operation at this distillery is a massive and heavy structure equivalent to several floors of a building. For this exhibition, we selected and cut some of the sections that make up the Coffey still to reduce its weight, which made the exhibit possible.
The internal structure is revealed through cuts, and combined with lighting, it creates a symbolic presence. In addition, a life-size photograph of a newly introduced Japanese-made café still is placed on the background wall to enhance the sense of realism.
Furthermore, photographs of the lush, green landscape of Miyagikyo, blessed with clear streams, are placed on the wall connecting the two stills. This creates an iconic entrance space where the stills and the rich natural environment of the Miyagikyo Distillery are seamlessly integrated.