refined sake “Hakkaisan”, which produces sake Hakkaisan, rice shochu “Yoroshiku Senman Arubeshi”, and “ohoro gin”, has finally started to sell Whisky. Rice Whisky distilled at Fukasawahara distillery in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, is now on sale.
Hakkaisan Jozo, a Hakkaisan Jozo, finally releases a Whisky. Introducing an uncompromising Whisky aged for 8 years in rice Whisky.
1. Hakkaisan Single Grain Uonuma 8 Year Old Rice Whisky 2025LIMITED
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1-1. Product Information
A unique style of rice grain Whisky made primarily from rice. Using “Raiden-sama no mizu” (Raiden’s fresh water) as the Jozo water, which delivers the clean taste we seek, 2025LIMITED was produced using sake yeast. It is a rare Whisky that is rarely found anywhere else in the world, made by slowly aging for 8 years only the original Whisky produced in our original pursuit based on traditional Whisky manufacturing methods. Please enjoy the sweet aroma reminiscent of vanilla and flowers nurtured in the rich natural environment of Uonuma.
Tasting Notes
Color: Amber
Aroma: Sweet aroma reminiscent of chocolate and vanilla followed by citrus fruits
Taste: Slight sweetness from rice, dried fruits, nutmeg-like spiciness, caramel bitterness1-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 52% alcohol by volume |
| Sake type | Grain Whisky |
| Cask type | Unknown |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | The number of bottles sold |
| Suggested Retail Price | 13,200 yen (tax included) |
| Lottery sales period | March 28, 2025 (Friday) 9:00 a.m. – April 9, 2025 (Wednesday) 9:00 a.m. |
1-3. How to purchase
Lottery sales will begin on March 28, 2025 (Mon.) on the official Hakkaisan Jozo website
*Lottery sales will be held in July and October 2025 and January 2026 thereafter.
２．Hakkaisan Jozo Fukasawahara Distillery
| Location | 343-9 Nagamori, Minamiuonuma, Niigata 949-7112 |
| Access to the distillery | 10 minutes by cab from Itsukamachi Station on the JR Joetsu Line |
| Start of business | 2005 |
| Official HP | Uonuma no Sato |
| Visiting |
Tours are not permitted. |
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The Fukasawahara Distillery operated by Hakkai Jozo, known for its sake Hakkaisan, is located in Uonuma-no-sato, a leisure facility with a variety of restaurants, a museum, and a café.
In 2005, the distillery produced shochu as the original “Fukasawahara Distillery,” and in April 2016, it obtained a license to produce Whisky, and since then has continued to produce grain made from rice.
At the same time, they also operate the Niseko distillery, and are one of the few breweries to have two distilleries among the craft distilleries that have started to increase in recent years.
The company began producing rice Whisky in 2016, and uses Raiden-sama’s fresh water forthe Jozo water to achieve a clean taste,an environment unique to a sake Jozo that uses sake yeast.
For more information on Hakkaisan Jozo, please click here as well!
3. last but not least
Hakkaisan Jozo has finally released a Whisky. Although there are some domestic distilleries producing rice Whisky these days, they are still few in number, but the number of distilleries that are working on it seems to be increasing in the future.
The announcement also states that the Whisky will be blended with Niseko distillery’s Whisky, and we can’t wait to see what Niseko has in store for us.
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.
