8. Whisky Distilleries in Kyushu and Okinawa

8. Kyushu and Okinawa Region

8-1. Kanosuke Distillery

Ltd. transferred its whisky production business at the Kanosuke Distillery to “KOMASA KANOSUKE Distillery Co.

Established in 1883, Kagoshima Prefecture’s Komasa Brewery is a sake brewer focusing on the authentic shochu “Kozuru” .
As a challenge to a new stage, utilizing the authentic shochu production technology it has cultivated to date in abundance, the company obtained a whisky production license in 2017 and began operation of the “Komasa Jozo Kanosuke Distillery” .

In 2018, New Pot was released in limited quantities. Furthermore, “Kanosuke Newborn 2018” , stored for 8 months, was released.
In 2019, “Kanosuke Newborn 2019” stored for 16 months, will be released.
In 2020, the company will release “Kanosuke Newborn 2020 Peated” made with British peated malt and stored for 24 months.

Image source: Kanosuke Distillery KANOSUKE DISTILLERY

In addition, the company is actively selling craft gin prior to the sale of whisky.
Two types are currently on sale: “KOMASA GIN Sakurajima Little Mikan” and “KOMASA GIN Houjicha” .

Location	Postal Code 899-2421 845-3 Gannokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima
Access	From Kagoshima City Highway: 10 minutes from the Miyama Interchange on the Minami-Kyushu Expressway (approx. 35 minutes) National Highway Route 3 – Prefectural Highway 24 – National Highway 270 (about 45 minutes) From Kagoshima Airport Kyushu Expressway – Minami-Kyushu Expressway – 10 minutes from Miyama Interchange (approx. 1 hour) From Kagoshima Chuo Station “Ijuin” station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line – 15 minutes by cab (approx. 40 minutes)
Commencement of operations	2017
Official HP	kanosuke distillery
Tours	Tours are available, reservations required through the website.
Products	Kanosuke Newborn 2018, Kanosuke Newborn 2019, Kanosuke Newborn 2020

Typical whisky from Kanosuke Distillery.

8-2. Hombo Shuzo Mars Tsunuki Distillery

Speaking of Mars whisky, “Mars Shinshu Distillery” , which operated in Nagano Prefecture in 1985, is famous, but the place where Hombo Sake Brewery, which owns the distillery, started producing distilled sake, was “Tsunuki” introduced this time.

In 2016, Hombo Shuzo renovated one of the storage facilities in the Tsunuki Plant, which has a history of producing shochu for more than 100 years, and operated “Mars Tsunuki Distillery” .
While Mars Shinshu Distillery matures slowly in a cool climate, Mars Tsunuki Distillery is thought to be dynamically aged in a warm climate. We also use various types of raw sake to be produced and barrel types used for maturation.
At Tsunuki Distillery, in addition to the adjacent storage, the company also stores 30 barrels every year at the Yakushima Aging Cellar owned in Yakushima. It is very interesting what kind of aging is progressing in Yakushima, which has a climate that is rare in Japan.

“Single Malt Tsunuki THE FIRST” will be released on April 27, 2020, and “Single Malt Tsunuki PEATED” will be released on January 18, 2021.

In addition, the former hombo family residence “Hojo” adjacent to the distillery is used as a SHOP selling bar where you can taste Mars whisky and original goods and liquors, and it was built in 1933 in a Japanese-style one-story mansion with traditional wooden architecture.With the beauty of the tiles that make up the roof unique to the old house and the majestic appearance of the luxurious finish, you can enjoy the garden that changes the expression every day every season.The wooden deck leading to the stone warehouse from the surrounding corridor is arranged, and the stone lanterns are casually arranged in the garden where you can enjoy the best time while looking at the scenery of the four seasons.

Location	〒899-3611 6594 Kaseda Tsukan, Minami-Satsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Access	■By bus from Kagoshima Airport ※ About 1 hour and a half Bus details here. About 90 minutes from Kagoshima Airport bus stop on Kagoshima Kotsu Line 0 (makurazaki and Kaseda) Get off at Kaseda Taxi (about 10km) When getting off at “Kamitsunuki” Walk (about 2km) ※ There is no taxi ■ If you are using a bus from Kagoshima Chuo Station Get off at “Tsunuki” at “Kaseda Bus Terminal” at Kagoshima Kotsu Higashi 16 platform (towards Kaseda) about 110 minutes ※ Reference: Bus timetable of Kyushu PC version is here , Smartphone version is here ■ If you go by bus Approximately 90 minutes from Kagoshima Airport (via Taniyama IC on the Kyushu Expressway) Approximately 70 minutes from Kagoshima City, JR Kagoshima Chuo Station, and JR Ibusuki Station Approximately 40 minutes from chiran suicide peace hall Approximately 20 minutes from JR Makurazaki Station
Started operation	2016年
Official website	Hombo Shuzo Mars Tsunuki Distillery
inspection	Tours are available. Reservations required from hp.
commodity	Single Malt Tsunuki THE FIRST

Typical whisky of Mars Tsunuki Distillery

[the_ad id=”2092″][the_ad id=”2158″]

8-3. Helios Sake Brewery

Helios Shuzo, a sake brewery in Okinawa Prefecture, had a history of making whisky in-house in the 1980s, and it was shipped both domestically and internationally. The whisky produced at that time remained stored after the whisky boom was under fire. In 2016, Lawson talked about selling whisky, and limited editions of “Calendar 15” and “Helios Whisky Calendar (200ml)” . This led to helios brewery’s in-house whisky production.

Image Source：Sake brewery tour | Helios Shuzo Co., Ltd.

 

On December 31, 2020, we released Okinawa’s first single malt whisky, Kyoda Kaskstrengths 2020.
Malt whisky, which was prepared and distilled in-house in 2017 using British pete malt as a raw material, is aged in oak barrels for three years. The label is designed to reproduce the atmosphere before dawn in the mountains near the distillery. The product name adopted Kyoda, the place name, and expressed it with powerful brush letters. Single malt whisky “Kyoda Kaskstrengths 2020” is a whisky with a smoky aroma and depth derived from Pete Malt. It is “Caskstrengths” that does not add water by 60.9% of the alcohol content of the barrel.

 

Image Source：Helios Sake Brewery Official Online Store

I would like to pay attention to what kind of whisky the company, which has a long history and tradition in the production of Awamori and rum, will make in the future.

Location	〒905-0024 405 Kyoda, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture
access	■ From Okinawa Expressway If you run for a while past Kyota Toll Booth, there is a way down to the left. If you go down there, you will hit Hwy 58, so turn right. There is a pushbutton signal just through the expressway. There is a signboard at the end of the traffic light, so turn right there. Please go through the lakeside village and proceed to the back. ■ From Route 58 (from Naha City to Nago City) There is a push button type signal right under the Okinawa Expressway (you can see Kyoda Port). There is a signboard at the end of the traffic light, so turn right there and go through the lakeside village to the back. Started operation.
Started operation.	2016 (Whisky production resumed)
Official website	Helios Shuzo Co., Ltd.
inspection	Tours are available. Reservations required from hp. * Refrain from visiting the tour for the time being due to corona (as of January 1, 2021)
commodity	Single Malt Whisky “Kyoda Caskstrengths 2020”

Helios Brewery’s representative whisky

8-4. Tsuzaki Liquor Store Kuju Distillery

Operation started in February 2021. The Craft Whisky Distillery “Kuju Distillery” was newly established in Kuju-machi, Takeda City, Oita Prefecture.
Shoji Utoda, who runs a liquor store in Kuju-machi, Takeda City, Oita Prefecture, renovated a warehouse of about 400 square meters on the premises of the store and built a distillery. We will introduce a distiller manufactured by Forsyth Scotland and start production in February 2021. Since it takes three years to mature until shipment, sales are scheduled to begin around 2024 and 2025.

Mr. Utoda consulted with Ichiro Akuto, a venture whisky who became world famous for “Ichiro’s Malt”, and learned manufacturing technology from 2017.
On The 5th of this month, we obtained our long-awaited whisky production license from the Takeda Tax Office, and production will finally begin.

location	〒878-0201 6426 Kuju, Kuju-machi, Takeda City, Oita Prefecture
access	Approximately 5-6 km from JR Bungo-Takeda Station
Started operation.	February 2021
Official HP	Tsuzaki Liquor Store’s website, not Kuju Distillery HP
inspection	–
commodity	–

8-5. Kuroki Main Store Osuzuyama Distillery

Kuroki Honten is a long-established shochu distillery known for “Hyakunen no Koroku” “Yamaneko” and “Yamazaru” . The distillery was built in the mountains by Toshio Kuroki, who was inspired by the Edradower distillery in Scotland. His son, Shinsaku Kuroki, who succeeded him, started making whisky in November 2019.
The barley used as raw material is made in-house, and they grow two varieties, Harushizuku and Haruka Nijo.
There are a total of four distillation machines: two for shochu, one for whisky (redistillation), and one for spirits.
Whisky is first distilled in the distiller for shochu, and then the distiller for whisky is used for redistillation.

OSUZU MALT NEW MAKE,

released in August 2020, sold out immediately after its release. It shows the high expectations and attention.

Location	〒884-0104 656-17 Ishikawachi, Kijo-cho, Koyu-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture
Access	Approximately 30 minutes by car from Nakako, Takanabe Town
Commencement of Operations	1998
Official HP	Osuzuyama Distillery
Tours
Products	OSUZU MALT NEW MAKE

Representative Spirits of Osuzuyama Distillery

8-6. Nishi Shuzo Mitake Distillery

Nishi Brewery was founded in 1845. A long-established manufacturer of authentic shochu, known for such products as “Satsuma Hozan” and” “Tenshi no Temptation” with over 170 years of history in the mountains of Hioki City. Acquired Kagoshima Golf Resort in February 2011. In 2019, the company built a whisky distillation facility in the golf resort.

This will be the third distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture, following Hombo Shuzo’s Mars Tsunuki Distillery and Komasa Brewery’s Kanosuke Distillery. “Mitake” is Sakurajima, which seems to be the official name of Sakurajima since ancient times. There are two pot stills, one for first distillation and one for redistillation. Both have an upward line arm and produce a clean new pod with a fruity and deep aroma. All barrels used for aging are old sherry casks.
The release of the craft gin ” 尽-tsukusu-“

in 2019, which is the result of extracting a total of 24 different botanicals, is also a hot topic.

Location	Postal code 891-0144 12300 Shimofukumoto-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Access	5 minutes from Ibusuki Skyline, 5 minutes from Taniyama Interchange on Nansatsu Expressway, 20 minutes by car from Kagoshima City Approximately 40 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport
Start of Operation	2019
Official HP	Mitake Distillery THE ONTAKE DISTILLERY
Tours	–
Merchandise	–

8-7. Shinzato Shuzo Brewery

Founded in 1846, Shinzato Shuzo is Okinawa’s oldest Awamori brewery.
The “Shinzato WHISKY” currently on sale is a whisky made by blending overseas blended whisky with a few percent of the so-called “spirits” from the Shinzato Shuzo brewery, Awamori that has been aged for 13 years in sherry casks.

“NEW MAKE Shinzato” distilled in-house will be released in April 2021. The limited run of 350 bottles sold out immediately.
Pot stills are used in combination with those used to distill Awamori. They currently have three pot stills. Three types of casks are used for aging (specifics are unknown, but probably sherry and bourbon casks), and they intend to sell it as whisky after three years of aging. The company produces one batch of the original whisky every day.

Location	Postal code 904-2161 3-22-8 Koza, Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan (main factory) Postal code 904-2234 12-17, Suzaki, Uruma City, Okinawa, Japan (Suzaki Plant)
Access	By car: Approximately 20 minutes from the Kitanaka Interchange toward Okinawa City, near the AEON Gushigawa store.
Start of operation	2021 (start of whisky production by own distillation)
Official HP	Shinzato Shuzo Brewery Co.
Tour	Free of charge. Reservations must be made by phone at least one week in advance of the tour date (tours are cancelled for the time being).
Products	NEW MAKE Shinzato, Shinzato WHISKY

Typical whisky of the Shinzato Brewery

8-8. Shinozaki Shindo Whisky Distillery

The whisky business is a new project of Shinozaki, a long-established brewery in Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture, which also produces Kunigiku amazake, Asakura barley liqueur, and shochu, etc. The building was completed in May 2021, and distillation began in August. Pot stills made by Miyake Seisakusho are used.
The company aims to create an unprecedented Japanese whisky by utilizing about 200 years of sake brewing know-how.
The first craft distillery in Fukuoka Prefecture is scheduled to begin shipments in three years. The company aims to ship 200,000 bottles per year.
In the future, the company plans to use wood from its own forests to make the vats used during fermentation and the barrels used during maturation.

Location	〒838-1303 185 Hiramatsu, Asakura, Fukuoka, Japan
Access	By car: Exit at Asakura Interchange on Oita Expressway.
Commencement of operations	August 2021 (start of whisky production through in-house distillation)
Official HP	Shinozaki Corporation
Tours	–
Products	–

8-9. Yamaga Distillery Co.

Completed on November 6, 2021. The first whisky distillery in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Operations will begin in 2013. The parent company is MCA Holdings (Tokyo), which was established through the spin-off of the alcoholic beverage business of Minamikyushu Coca-Cola Bottling (now Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan). At the time of operation, the distillery produced shochu (distilled spirit), but switched to whisky production. The company aims to commercialize the product in 2024 or later with technical cooperation from Hombo Shuzo (Kagoshima City). The company expects to sell 150kl, 40,000-50,000 bottles per year.

The distillery was built on the site of the original shochu factory. It is a two-story steel-framed structure (total floor space 1,257 m2) with a 4.6-meter-high bulge-shaped pot still. The 1,043 m2 maturing warehouse can store up to 3,300 rack-type barrels with a capacity of approximately 200 liters. A passageway for visitors to observe the production process and a lounge for tasting are also provided.

Total construction cost is approximately 1.1 billion yen.

The facility uses high-quality deep groundwater from the Kunimi mountain range and the Kikuchi River system.
The temperature difference between -5 degrees Celsius in winter and 40 degrees Celsius in summer is utilized for maturation.

Location	Postal Code 861-0565 980-1 Gozato, Shikao-machi, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Access	Car: 15 minutes from Kumamoto Ueki Interchange
Start of operation	August 2021 (start of whisky production through in-house distillation)
Official HP	Yamaga Distillery Co.
Tours	Scheduled to begin in March 2022
Products	–

8-10. Kogane Sakagura Yokogawa Distillery Whisky Factory

The brewing water used at Yokogawa Distillery is called “aokimizu” which comes from the foothills of the Kirishima Mountains in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture, where there is an abundance of water sources. “Aokimizu” is said to have a good affinity with yeast and to accelerate the aging process.

We are planning to tie up with a major European winery in the future, which will enable us to purchase a wide variety of aging casks such as sherry and wine casks.

The company also has breweries in Yokogawa and Kokubu Shikine, areas within Kirishima City. Yokogawa is a relatively cool area at a high altitude and surrounded by trees, while Kokubu Shikine is close to Kagoshima Bay and has the scent of sea breezes. Sake aged in different regions can have different characteristics.

The Yokogawa distillery boasts ample capacity, with land the size of about 1.3 Tokyo Domes and two huge warehouses.

We aim to create a fruity and easy-drinking whisky by using a variety of brewing water, different types of yeast, different types of shochu breweries, barrels, different climates, and fermentation and distillation techniques developed over many years of shochu distilling.

Currently, we plan to produce it with non-peat malt. Basically, we plan to use non-peated malt, but we also plan to use peated malt.

Location	899-6301, Japan 3280-5 Kamino, Yokogawa-cho, Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Access	5 minutes drive from “Osumi Yokogawa Station” of JR Hisatsu Line, 45 minutes walk
Start of operation	January 2022
Official HP	Yokogawa Distillery Whisky Factory
Tours	TBD (Kogane Brewery is currently offering tours of the brewery)
Products	–

 

8-11.TENSEI Brewery Hishida distillery

Founded in 1901. The company started shochu production under the trade name of Old Pine Shuzo, and changed its trade name to Tensei Shuzo at the end of 2010.
In recent years, the company established the “early drop distillation” method, which was inspired by the middle cut in whiskey production, and “Tensei Houjun Aka” produced by this method won the highest gold award at the TWSC (Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition) for the second year in a row.
He makes whiskey utilizing soft water from “Fugendo Spring Source”, one of the 100 best water sources in Heisei era, which flows in Hishida.
Currently, English malt from Crisp and non-piped malt from Avangard Malz of Germany and domestic malt are also being used on a trial basis.
Fermentation time is long, approximately 5 days. By using a copper hybrid still, it is possible to make both malt and grain whiskey.

Location	Postal Code 899-7301 1270 Hishida, Osaki-cho, Soo-gun, Kagoshima
Access	Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport
Start of operation	October 2022
Official HP	Tensei Shuzo Co.天星酒造株式会社
Tours	undecided
Products	ー

8-12.Satsuma Shuzo Hi no Kami Distillery

Satsuma Shuzo Co., Ltd. famous for its shochu “Satsuma Shiranami”, which is no exaggeration when talking about shochu in Kagoshima, obtained a license to produce whiskey in December 2022.
The company will begin producing malt whiskey in February 2023.
As early as November 2023, the company plans to install a new continuous distillation machine and begin producing grain whiskey in addition to malt whiskey.
Originally, Satsuma Shuzo has been producing barley shochu “God’s River” aged in white oak barrels since 1988, and is the only shochu manufacturer in Japan to have its own “barrel workshop” and “barrel cellar,” where exclusive “barrel craftsmen (cooper)” manage and recondition the barrels.
Incidentally, there are only about 60 cooperage workers in Japan.
Therefore, Satsuma Shuzo is one of the distilleries that can make all Japanese whiskey, including malt, grain, and cooperage (barrel making), and has very high expectations. The fact that the brewery is receiving technical assistance from three distilleries, the Mars Shinshu and Tsunuki distilleries of the Hombo Brewery and the Yamaga distillery in Kumamoto, also raises expectations.
According to the official comment, “By the end of 2024, we plan to open a distillery with a store and a bar, which will be open to the public for tours. The “Hi no Kami Distillery” will be a new Japanese whiskey that will be loved around the world by achieving world-class quality and providing facilities that allow visitors to see the charm of whiskey in all its glory.
Two Japanese lantern-type distillation machines with a planned production capacity of 175,000 liters, malt preparation (one batch): 1.1 tons
Plans to release a single malt, “Fire God,” by the end of 2026.

Location	388 Hinokamikita-cho, Makurazaki-shi, Kagoshima 898-0043, Japan
Access	20 min. walk from JR Makurazaki Station
Start of operation	February 2023
Official HP	Satsuma Sake Brewery Co.薩摩酒造株式会社
Tours	Scheduled for 2024
Products	ー

Typical products of Hinokami Distillery

8-13.Yamato Distillery, Yamato Brewery Co.

A long-established liquor store founded in 1821.
The barrel-aged shochu “Tenshi no Haremae” won the Monde Selection Gold Prize in 2000.
Single Malt Yamato,” which became a topic of conversation because of its resemblance to the wording on the back label of a 12-year-old product from a major Osaka whiskey maker.
Single Rice Whiskey “Honosuke” and “Magyu” which looks exactly like that premium potato shochu known as the “3M” of potato shochu.
There is no information on distillers or facilities.

Location	60-1, Hamacho, Yamato-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto, Japan
Access	From Nishitetsu Tenjin “Tenjin Bus Center” to “Yamato Town (Yabe)”: 2 hours and 30 minutes
Start of operation	1821
Official HP	Yamato Sake Brewery Co.山都酒造株式会社
Tours	ー
Products	ー

Representative of Yamato Distillery

8-14.JFLA Holdings Joraku Brewery

Founded in 1913.
RICE WHISKY Joraku” produced by a long-established authentic shochu distillery in Kuma, Kumamoto, is sold as a grain whiskey.
The ingredients are clearly labeled, and the Japanese label is removed, showing the spirit of trying to create a new type of whiskey.
It is a blend of whisky distilled from German malt and Japanese rice, and vodka made from authentic shochu (rice liquor) that has been aged and stored in oak barrels for a long time.
The whiskey’s delicate and refined sweetness derived from rice is said to be an excellent match for Japanese cuisine.

Location	2577-13 Ichitake, Nishiki-cho, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto 868-0302, Japan
Access	Approximately 30 minutes walk from Ichibu Station
Start of operation	1912
Official HP	Joraku Brewery常楽酒造
Tours	acceptable
Products	RICE WHISKY Joraku Mugi-Shochu Joraku Autumn Dew

Typical products of Joraku Brewery

8-15.Komaki Brewery Komaki Distillery

The Komaki family has a long history. In 1590, he moved to Satsuma as one of 13 samurai retainers of the Kitago Shimazu family.
In 1909, they established an authentic shochu manufacturing business in Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture, and this year marks the 115th anniversary of their establishment.
The company obtained a whiskey license as of January 31, 2023.
With that, the facility trial operation was completed, and operation officially started on April 1, 2023.
One ton per batch is brewed.
Although it has just started operation and the product is, of course, still a long way off, the official comment clearly states that they will make “Japanese whiskey,” and their firm will and confident words undeniably raise our expectations.
Here is the official comment
We are convinced that our authentic shochu production and distillation technology is superior to anything in the world.
By applying this technology to the world’s distilled spirit, whisky, we are confident that the Japanese whisky we produce will soar to new heights, and by extension, raise the awareness of authentic shochu, and restore Japan to its world-class status.

Location	12 Tokiyoshi, Satsuma-cho, Satsuma-gun, Kagoshima 895-1816, Japan
Access	From Kagoshima Station, board a bus bound for Miyanojo and disembark at the Todoro Onsen-mae stop. Approx. 103 min.
Start of operation	1909
Official HP	Komaki Distillery
Tours	undecided
Products	Benikomaki Ikkyu Silver

Typical products of Komaki Distillery

8-16.Umegae Brewery

Umegae Brewery, a sake brewery founded in 1787, has developed the first whiskey business in Nagasaki Prefecture.
President Tetsuya Nagano, his second son, Takeshi, and his third son, Taishin, and his brothers are working hard to preserve tradition and produce original whiskey.
In 2019, they will release their craft gin “Yokitsuki – Reigetsu”, which will also be the first of its kind in Nagasaki Prefecture.
It uses a hybrid still made in Germany.
Using malt from the U.K., the process takes 4 days per batch, and after 160 liters are made, they are packed in bourbon barrels.
As of 2023, a total of 7,000 liters or 35 barrels (enough for 10,000 bottles) will be brewed by November.
Takeshi Tsuyoshi, the master brewer, said, “First, we will follow the Scottish method and aim for a basic taste. After that, I hope to make various innovations.”

Location	317 Shiroma-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki 859-3237 Japan
Access	21 minutes walk from Minamikazezaki Station exit
Start of operation	1787
Official HP	Umegae Sake Brewery梅ヶ枝酒造
Tours	Possible*A minimum of 10 people is required to tour the storehouse (reservation required), and the tour takes about 30 minutes.
Products	Sake Umegae – YOKITSUKI – REIGETSU

Representative products of Umegae Brewery

8-17.KANOSUKE Hinoki Distillery

Originally, the company started out making sake for the Hioki Hachiman Shrine and distilling authentic shochu. Today, the company manufactures and sells liqueurs, spirits, and whiskey. Its representative brand is the “Kozuru” series of potato shochu.

The distiller is a straight vertical stainless steel distiller used for shochu. Whiskey produced in Hioki is “grain whiskey,” but it is different from the continuous distiller usually used for grain whiskey.

At Hioki, whisky is distilled under reduced pressure in a single-stage distiller, which reduces the distillation volume. This results in a strong, robust liquor that retains the flavor derived from the two raw materials, barley and malt. This is truly a “Japanese pot still” that can only be produced by the Komasa Shuzo Brewery, which has been engaged in shochu production for a long time.

 

Location	3309 Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-3101
Access	ー
Start of operation	1883
Official HP	Kanosuke Steam House KANOSUKE DISTILLERY嘉之助蒸溜所 KANOSUKE DISTILLERY
Tours	A visitor center is also located at the Kanosuke Distillery.
Products	KANOSUKE HIOKI POT STILL嘉之助　HIOKI POT STILL

8-19.Nikka Whisky Satsumasa Distillery

The production base for shochu Satsumashi. It produces grain whiskey in a straight stainless steel shochu still. Barley grain, corn, and rye were used in the limited edition Nikka Discovery Series and Nikka The Grain whiskey.

Location	200 Suwa-machi, Kajiki-cho, Aira-shi, Kagoshima
Access	ー
Start of operation	1936 Whiskey distilling started in 2018
Official HP	ー
Tours	ー
Products	ニッカ ザ・グレーン created by Rinker ブラックニッカ Amazon 楽天市場 Yahooショッピング メルカリ

8-20.Nikka Whisky Moji Factory

The Moji factory produces barley shochu “Kanoka” and has also been producing grain whiskey since 2017. The distillation machine is very large, about 10 times larger than that of Satsumashi. The original whiskey from this factory is also used for “Nikka The Grain” mentioned above.

Location	2-1 Osatomotomachi, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
Access	ー
Start of operation	1914 Whiskey distilling started in 2017
Official HP	ー
Tours	ー
Products	ニッカ ザ・グレーン created by Rinker ブラックニッカ Amazon 楽天市場 Yahooショッピング メルカリ

8-21.Oishi Sake Brewery

Oishi Shuzo is famous for its rice shochu “Oishi”. The distillation as well as the production of aged shochu will make whiskey production a smooth process.

It is already sold as “OHISHI WHISKY” in the United States. However, in the U.S., the laws for bourbon are very strict, but the laws for whiskey are a little looser. This whiskey is even listed as Whisky ADVOCATE, etc., but I think the contents are aged rice shochu. It is not found in Japan, but there are cases where it is sold in souvenir stores in the United States.

After obtaining a manufacturing license, New Pot was released under the name “Mizukami.

Location	2-1 Osatomotomachi, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
Access	ー
Start of operation	1872 Whiskey distillation begins in 2022
Official HP	Oishi Shuzo Brewery｜Kuma Shochu Brewery 大石酒造場｜熊本県球磨川最上流の球磨焼酎の酒蔵
Tours	Visits are available for shochu production.
Products	Shochu “Oishi”, Whiskey “Mizukami New Pot”, etc.