Located at 1,200m above sea level and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Southern Alps, this is the 2nd in a long-awaited series of dessin from the highest altitude distillery in Japan.
The previous work, “dessin Series Flora 2024,” was also quite good, and I am sure that everyone who tasted it had high expectations for the next one.Moreover, this time it is peated compared to the previous no peated one, so peat lovers should check it out.
The release date is set for mid-May, and we will post an announcement on this page as soon as it is available.
With a limited run of 6,000 bottles, it may be hard to get your hands on a bottle, but if you see it at a bar or other place, please enjoy it.
１．Single Malt dessin Series Fauna 2025
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1-1．Product Information
Following the first release, the second in the Dessin series is a peat-type single malt whisky.
It is a medium peat type, based on non-peat type bourbon barrel malt, which is the key malt of Ikawa distillery, blended with malt produced with phenol values of 50ppm and 30ppm.
The label of the peat-type Fauna line is based on the animals of the Southern Alps and features a grouse, a special natural treasure.
The Southern Alps is also an extremely valuable habitat for grouse, as it is the southern limit of their range in the world.Citation: Manufacturer’s data
1-2．Product Specs
alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) 53% distinction by alcohol Single malt whisky (peated type) cask-type bourbon barrel Shigome water/water refill Wood squid welling up water (hardness 40mg/L) Cooling Filtration Non-chill filtered (70µ) yeast distillery yeast quantity of content 700ml number of long thin objects (movies, TV programs, baseball games, etc.) Limited edition of 6,000 Price 19,800 yen (tax included)
２．Dessin Series Flora & Fauna？
The environment of the Southern Alps surrounding the Ikawa Distillery has maintained a harmonious ecosystem with various living creatures over a long period of time.Similarly, whisky is created in a state of harmony in aroma and taste through the blending of various types of original whisky, including the creation of original whisky by the distiller.
The “harmony” common to all of these whiskys is the 12-year-old whisky we are aiming for, and this series of dessin is an expression of the process that led us to that point.
Subsequent releases will represent the elements that make up these harmonies with species of the Southern Alps ecosystem and will be assigned to the series’ labels.
The no peated model Flora (= plant motif) and its counterpart, the peated model Fauna (= animal motif), come together to gradually complete our vision.
These series will be developed every year until the launch of the regular model that Ikawa Distillery is aiming for, and will be given more than 20 different motifs.
3．Manufacturer
Juzan Corporation
| Location | 1301-1 Torimori, Tashiro, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 428-0505, Japan |
| Possess distillery | Ikawa Distillery |
4．Distillery Information
Ikawa distillery
| Location | 1299-1, Oshunoki, Tashiro, Aoi-Ku, Shizuoka-City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 428-0505, Japan |
| Commencement of operations | January 2018 |
In April 2020, Juzan Corporation was established by the Southern Alps Division, which was the company-owned forest management division of Tokushu Tokai Paper Co.Ltd.
was spun off from the company-owned forest management division of Tokushu Tokai Paper Mfg.
The company owns 24,430 hectares of company-owned forests in the Ikawa Mountains, the largest single forest complex in Japan.The company is responsible for preserving the environment of the Southern Alps and maintaining and managing trails for visitors to the mountains.
Currently, the company has started a whisky production business that takes advantage of the unique environment and natural spring water found only in the Ikawa Mountain Forest.
- The distillery is located at an altitude of 1,200m and uses spring water from Tokusa, the highest spring in Japan and a symbol of rich forests.
- Mizunara oak, which grows in the mountain forests of Ikawa, is also used for the barrels, which are indispensable for making whisky.The company also collects acorns from the Mizunara oak trees that have been cut down and plants trees for the future.
- The natural environment of the Southern Alps is foggy, cool and humid, a “ripening environment”.The distillery has built a maturing hut at a higher altitude than the distillery, where the casks are matured under the name of “Mountain Cask”.
In the future, it will be released as a series product in the 【Dessin Series】.There will be two types, Flora and Fauna, and the release will be divided into two types, no peated and peated, respectively.
Citation: Ikawa distillery HP
Products currently being released by Ikawa Distillery
Review of Ikawa Distillery
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.
