Kuju Distillery in Oita Prefecture has launched a single malt small batch. Kuju is primarily made from sherry-cask-aged spirits.
We explain its features, price, and how to purchase it.
Kuju Distillery is located in Oita Prefecture. Following the release of “First” in April 2025, they launched “Kuju Sora.”
This time, they’ve released a single malt in a small batch that showcases new characteristics centered around sherry cask-aged spirits. What kind of flavor profile does it have?
1. Product Name and Photo
Single Malt Kuju Small Batch #01
Single Malt KUJU Small Batch #01 
2. Single Malt KUJU Small Batch #01
A limited-edition product crafted with care using carefully selected casks
The Kuju Distillery is adding a new series, the “Small Batch” series, to its single malt lineup. This is a limited-production single malt blended from carefully selected spirits, primarily aged in sherry casks.
A consistent, concentrated sweetness—from the aroma to the taste—blends with the complex flavors of the base spirits, creating a full-bodied mouthfeel. Please savor this whisky neat to fully appreciate its viscous, long finish, which becomes more pronounced over time.
Tasting Note
Color: Deep amber
Aroma: Pound cake, dried pineapple, deep oak furniture, fallen leaves in the shade
Taste: Almond cookies, syrup-soaked yellow peaches, American cherries, pine needles
Finish: A viscous sweetness reminiscent of butter candy, with a hint of clove spiceBrand Story An adventure made possible by small-batch production
A limited-production item crafted from a select few barrels
“Small Batch” is a limited-production single malt that allows you to enjoy the distiller’s dedication and individuality even more than a standard single malt made from many barrels, by using only a select few barrels.
“While our previously released items were produced in a certain volume, the ‘Small Batch’ series uses spirit from a select few barrels. This allows us to preserve the common character of Kuju’s spirit while delivering a more distinctive personality. We hope you’ll discover a new side of Kuju and think, ‘I didn’t know Kuju had this kind of character.’ Please fully enjoy the distinct personality of Kuju’s spirit, which feels even more pronounced here.
Starting with a blend primarily featuring sherry cask spirits
For this “Small Batch 01,” we blended carefully selected spirits with a focus on sherry casks. “I focused on how to bring out Kuju’s unique character within the strong nuances of the sherry casks,” says blender Takeishi. A consistent, concentrated sweetness—from the aroma to the taste—blends with the complex flavors of the base spirits, creating a full-bodied mouthfeel. Please savor the viscous, long finish, which becomes more pronounced over time, slowly and thoroughly, enjoyed neat.
Comment from Blender Takeishi
For this small batch, we started with a small quantity of excellent sherry casks and built the blend from there. When blending, I focused on how to bring out Kuju’s unique character within the context of sherry casks, which have strong oak nuances. The cask composition blends sherry casks with a small amount of bourbon casks. Because it has a full-bodied character, it evolves over time. Please take your time and enjoy it neat.
Source: Kuju Distillery Official Website
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Butter shortbread, dried fruit, leather chair, cinnamon |
| Taste | Florentine, meringue pie, dried apricot, lemon milk |
| Finish | After the sweetness and nuttiness of baked goods, a creamy nuance lingers |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 51% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Cask Type | Primarily sherry casks |
| Volume | 700 ml |
| Number of Bottles | Unknown |
| Suggested Retail Price | 14,080 yen |
| Release Date | February 2026 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
4. List Price and Online Prices
5-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Single Malt Kuju The First |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 14,080 yen (tax included) |
5-2. Resale Price on Mercari
We were unable to confirm the resale price on Mercari at this time. (As of March 3, 2026)
5-3. Yahoo! Auctions Winning Bid Price
We were unable to confirm any winning bids on Yahoo! Auctions. (As of March 3, 2026)
5-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon
Listings on these online shopping sites could not be confirmed. (As of March 3, 2026)
5-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer the drink at the following prices: 45ml for 3,630 yen, 30ml for 2,420 yen, and 15ml for 1,210 yen.
6. About the Kuju Distillery
Kuju Distillery
| Distillery Name | Kuju Distillery |
| Location | 878-0201 6426 Kuju, Kuju-machi, Taketa-City, Oita Prefecture |
| Start of Operations | February 2021 |
 |
 |
 |
Located in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. Situated at an elevation of approximately 600 meters, the distillery is surrounded by a cool climate and the majestic natural scenery of the Kuju Highlands. Believing this land, blessed with crystal-clear air and abundant spring water, to be ideal for whisky production, we built the distillery here.
The Kuju Highlands are located within Aso-Kuju National Park. The area maintains its unique grasslands burning off the fields creating what could be described as a special environment. The water used comes from abundant underground springs.
President Udota received training at the Chichibu Distillery, and Production Manager Takeishi also trained at the Tsunuki Distillery.
The stills are manufactured by Forsyth in Scotland. While the malt is primarily imported, 10% is sourced from barley grown within the prefecture.
There are five Douglas fir fermentation tanks. The fermentation period lasts five days.
The distillery is attracting attention for its close ties to the local community, including hosting tours for local elementary schools.
Please also see the information on the Kuju Distillery below.
7. Summary
It features a sweet, rich aroma derived from sherry casks, combined with the distinctive strength and structure characteristic of a 51% ABV spirit.
The subtle notes of baked goods and dried fruit are soft, and you can sense that it has matured slowly in the highlands of Oita, despite its southern location.
This is a whisky with a gentle, comforting flavor rather than a flashy one. When enjoyed neat and savored slowly, the sweetness and spice emerge over time, revealing its depth.
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.
