Newborn is now available from Tensei Shuzo Hishida Distillery. A review of the taste and contents of the new distillery’s products.
Kagoshima shochu maker Tensei Shuzo’s Hishida Distillery will begin operations in 2022. The distillery produces whisky using soft water, one of the best in Kagoshima Prefecture.
We are pleased to introduce its new bone, which is now on sale.
1. photo of the bottle and label
Single Blended whisky Newborn Prelude1
Single Blended whisky Newborn Prelude1 
2. Hishida distillery newborn Prelude I
Hishida Distillery, a whisky distillery operated by Tensei Shuzo Co. (Head office: Soo-gun, Kagoshima Prefecture), will release its first official bottle “Hishida Distillery Newborn Prelude I” on March 11, 2025.
Hishida Distillery is a whisky production facility newly established in 2022 in Tensei Shuzo, a shochu brewery founded in 1901. It is a malt and grain whisky distillery on the Oosumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture, using ultra-soft water from the Fugendo Spring, which was selected as one of the 100 best water sources in the Heisei era.Our whisky business started with the first distillation in November 2022, and we have been producing malt and grain whiskys. The product we are now releasing is a “Newborn” made from whisky aged for less than three years, and the warm climate of the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture allows the whisky to develop a rich character even at a short maturation period. The malt and grain alcohol selected from among them is carefully blended under the supervision of Yusuke Yahisa, chief blender at the sister distillery, Nagahama Distillery (Shiga Prefecture).
Color: vivid amber color, warm golden color.
Aroma: Freshly baked apple cake on the top note, followed by cinnamon. Sweet and fresh citrus notes of grapefruit. Nostalgic with cigars, tea leaves and leafy, fallen leaves.
Taste: rich and full of dark chocolate. Woodiness from the oak adds strength as an accent. A sweet aftertaste reminiscent of vanilla beans lingers long and pleasantly.
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Apple tea, beer hops, hay, cocoa biscuit |
| Taste | High cocoa chocolate, tortoiseshell candy, meringue, small citrus acidity |
| Aftertaste | Long-lasting oak-derived aroma |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 47% alcohol by volume |
| Distillate | Japanese blended whisky |
| Cask type | Malt/White Oak, Port Wine Grain/Bourbon |
| Content volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | 3,000 bottles |
| Suggested retail price | 5,500 yen |
| Release date | March 2025 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
4. list price and online price
4-1. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
| Product name | Hishida Distillery Newborn Prelude I |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 5,500 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale price on Mercari could not be confirmed at present. (*As of 3/13/2025)
4-3. Yahoo Auction Sold Price
Sold prices on Yahoo! A uctions were at list prices . (*As of 3/13/2025)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
We confirmed that the product was sold at a fixed price on Amazon and other online shopping sites . (*As of 3/13/2025)
4-5.Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, we offer small quantities such as45mlperglass: 1,650 yen, 30ml: 1,100 yen, and 15ml: 550 yen.
5. about Tensei Shuzo Hishida Distillery
Image source: Hishida Distillery Facebook
.
Established in 1901. Began producing shochu 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 whisky production, and “Tensei Houjun Aka” produced by this method won the highest gold award at the TWSC (Tokyo whisky & Spirits Competition) for the second year in a row.
The Fugendo Springhead is one of the 100 best water sources in the Heisei era, flowing in Hishida. The soft water, one of the best in the prefecture, is utilized for making whisky.
Currently, they are experimenting with English malt from Crisp, non-piped malt from Avangard Malz of Germany, and domestic malt. The company also produces grain whisky and uses round barley.
Fermentation time is long, approximately 5 days. By using a copper hybrid still, it is possible to make both malt and grain whisky. The company raised 8,899,000 yen in support of the target amount of 3,000,000 yen.
| Location |
899-7301 |
| Access from Kagoshima Airport | Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Kagoshima Airport |
| Start of operation | October 2022 |
| Official HP | Tensei Shuzo Co. |
| Field Trip | Undecided |
| Merchandise | The products of the Tensei Shuzo |
For more information about Hishida Distillery, please click here.
6. summary
This is a full-bottle, inexpensive newborn. The color is quite dark, as is typical of the South, and there is an element of oak, but it doesn’t seem to show too much on the palate.
It seemed to be a prematurely ripe type of wine, but I would like to try a wine that has been aged for some time.
Please check out other articles about Hishida Distillery.
