Hokkaido WHISKY&SPIRITS FEST 2024 tickets now on sale.Overview of the event, including original bottles only available at the festival and“Master Class,” a paid tasting seminar with whisky industry experts as lecturers.
Hokkaido WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST is an event where whiskey distilleries, importers, and distributors from all over Japan gather to talk with participants. This year, gin distilleries, which are popping up one after another all over Japan, will actively participate in the event, and spirits has been added to the event’s name. The event will be held on August 4 at the Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Koen (former Royton Sapporo), located in the center of Sapporo City. The event aims to revitalize the BAR culture as well as to promote exchanges with producers and distributors through free and paid tastings, and to provide an opportunity for participants to exchange information with each other. For those interested in whiskey, spirits, and BAR, this is definitely an event not to be missed.
1. How to purchase tickets
Admission tickets with the privilege of a glass with an original strap are already on sale.
The number of expected visitors is approximately 2,000. Admission tickets can be purchased from the following two links.
Outline of the event
| Venue | Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park, Kita 1-jo Nishi 11-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0001, Japan Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Koen (former Royton Sapporo) Expansion to 3rd floor hall and 2nd floor room in 2024 |
| Access | 3 minutes walk from Nishi 11-chome Station on the Subway Tozai Line |
| Date and time | Sunday, August 4, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Price | Advance tickets 5,000 yen (tax included) |
| Hosted by | Hokkaido WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST 2024 Executive Committee, Hokkaido Broadcasting Co. |
2-1. Exhibit Booths
Currently 92 booths including exhibitors, individual exhibitors, and food exhibitors are scheduled to exhibit. Exhibitors include some of the leading whiskey distilleries and liquor stores in Japan, famous BARs from all over Japan, and other companies that conduct whiskey events throughout Japan.
https://www.hokkaidowsf.com/出展者一覧/
Below is a partial list of domestic whiskey distilleries scheduled to exhibit. In no particular order
| Nikka Whisky | Kenten Jitsugyo Akkeshi Distillery | Niigata Kameda Distillery | Asaka Distillery |
| Venture Whisky Co. | Kamui Whisky | Igawa Distillery | Shindo Distillery |
| Honbo Shuzo Co. | Eigashima Distillery | Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery | Sakurao distillery |
| Rokkosan distillery | Yoshida Denzai distillery | Yamaga distillery | Kuju distillery |
| Maoi distillery | Nagahama distillery | Kanosuke distillery | Hishida distillery |
| Benizakura distillery | Niseko distillery | Nozawaonsen distillery |
2-2. Open Seminar
Open talk sessions will be held at the venue, open to all participants.
Questions are also invited, and a total of 9 distilleries will hold sessions.
These talk sessions will be held on the main stage at the venue and will focus on distilleries from around Hokkaido.
No advance entry is required, and anyone is welcome to attend for free.We will also have a question-and-answer session for distilleries around Hokkaido. Please send us your questions about “such-and-such” and “such-and-such” using the form below.
We will try our best to answer as many of your questions as possible, but due to time constraints, we may not be able to answer all of them. Thank you for your understanding.
The time schedule below is subject to change on the day of the event.*Questions will be accepted from April 21, 2024 to July 3, 2024 at 23:59.
Open Seminar | HOKKAIDO WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST (hokkaidowsf.com)
- 11:30～Mr. Kimiaki Iwatake, Yoichi Distillery, Nikka Whisky
- 12:05～ Mr. Tetsutaro Murata, Maoi Distillery, Maoi Co.
- 12:30～ Mr. Keiichi Toita, Akkeshi Distillery, Kenten Jitsugyo Co.
- 12:55～Mr. Masato Nagumo, Niseko Distillery, Hachikai Jozo Co.
- 13:20～ Mr. Hidenari Iwasaki, Shakotan Spirit Shakotan Blue Distillery
- 13:45～ Mr. Atara Minami, Takasu Distillery, Son&Heir Co.
- 14:10～ Mr. Rui Yoshimoto, Hokkaido Free Whisky Co.
- 14:35～ Mr. Ichiro Akuto, Venture Grain Tomakomai Distillery, Venture Whisky Co.
- 15:00～ Mr. Yuta Akimoto, Tokachi Distillery, Tokachi Shuzo Co.
2-3. Master Class
Distillery managers and industry experts are invited to give lectures and tastings in four classes for a fee. The latest topics and special talks that can only be heard here are also available.
Tickets are sold separately and require a serial number after purchasing a ticket with scored admission. Applications are handled only through Asobu e-Ticket.
*Master class applications will be accepted from 10:00 a.m. on May 4 (Sat) (first-come-first-served basis). Tickets will not be displayed until the time.
Click here for the sales page.
Home | HOKKAIDO WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST (hokkaidowsf.com)
2-4. original bottle
Original bottles carefully selected by the executive committee members through a series of tastings.
We will release 3 single malt whiskies that were carefully selected by the executive committee members through tastings in limited quantities.We have created a selection of casks for everyone to enjoy.
Please note that all three original bottles will be released in limited quantities and will be selected by lottery if there are too many applications.The application period: May 4, 2024 (Sat) 10:00 – July 3, 2024 (Wed) 23:59
Applications received before or after the above application period will not be accepted.Only one application per admission ticket can be purchased.
◉You will need the serial number on your ticket to apply.
Please refer to the note on the serial number.
Please note that if a duplicate application is confirmed, the application will be invalidated.If the number of applications exceeds the planned quantity of bottles to be sold
If the number of applications exceeds the planned number of bottles to be sold, the bottles will be sold by lottery.◉After Thursday, July 4, the winner will receive an invoice with payment instructions from the original bottle distributor (Hokkaido Ocean Sales Japan hokkaidooceansales@gmail.com ) to their registered email address. Please contact us from the above e-mail address.
Please set your spam mail settings so that you can receive communications from the above email address.
Please complete payment by credit card by 23:59 on Saturday, July 20.
The product will be sent to the address you have registered for in mid-September or later.
The products will be shipped by Yamato Transport with shipping charges prepaid on delivery to your address after mid-September.◉No original bottles will be sold at the festival on the day of the event.
The ticket will not be sold at the festival venue on the day of the event.
Cancellation after the entry is confirmed due to the applicant’s reason,
In principle, we do not accept cancellations after the entry is confirmed due to the applicant’s reason, or returns of products after purchase.
Please note that failure to complete payment for the bottle by Saturday, July 20, will result in forfeiture of your right to win.
Please note that if you do not complete the payment by Saturday, July 20, your right to win the prize will be forfeited.Click here to apply. The page will not be displayed until the application period.
BOTTLED FOR HOKKAIDO WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST
THE AKKESHI Single Malt Japanese Whisky
HOKKAIDO AKKESHI DISTILLERY
53% 700ml 33,500yen(tax included)
The Akkeshi Distillery is a single malt Japanese whisky made from bourbon and sherry casks, with red wine casks used as an accent, while maintaining the peatiness typical of Akkeshi whisky.
The main age of maturation is 3-4 years. The finishing of Hokkaido Mizunara oak barrels gives it a pleasant sweetness reminiscent of characteristic red-fleshed melons.
BOTTLED FOR HOKKAIDO WHISKY & SPIRITS FEST
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
DISTILLED AT SECRET HIGHLAND DISTILLERY
AGED 14YEARSPRODUCT OF SCOTLAND
51. 1% 700ml22,500yen(tax included)
A Highland malt famous for its wildcat. In addition to the subtle and gentle aroma of seashore and smokiness, there are nuances of Asian spices and incense, and the oriental feeling is captivating. The taste is well-balanced with a slight saltiness at the end and a long aftertaste.
THE WILD ANIMALS FROM EZO
SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
DISTILLED AT SECRET ISLAY DISTILLERY
in 2018 aged 4 years
PRODUCT OF SCOTLAND
53. 1% 700ml17,000yen(tax included)
This Islay malt means “small cape” or “small hill”. It has a beautiful aroma of the seashore of this land, a powerful iodine aroma, and a creamy feel with a hint of raw oyster following after.
The label features Hokkaido’s native wildlife from a collection of works by Sapporo photographer Hiroki Inoue.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
