SETOUCHI DISTILLERY, run by Miyake Honten, will sell limited 1,200 bottles of AGED 2YEARS, a single cask Newborn Setouchi aged in sherry casks, at its online store from October 1. Details of the distillery as well as where to purchase are introduced.
SETOUCHI DISTILLERY is a distillery owned by a long-established sake manufacturer in Hiroshima Prefecture. The distillery’s craft gin Setouchi Graduates was inducted into the TWSC Hall of Fame and has earned a reputation for its high cost performance and taste.
This time, we have received information on the release of a new bone of whiskey. How does the whiskey taste now that two years have passed since the distillery has been in operation?
1. newborn setouchi AGED 2 YEARS
1-1. distillery comment
A single malt, single cask whisky that makes the most of the individuality of each cask.
In order to take advantage of the nature of the Setouchi area, the casks were stored for more than two years at the same temperature as the outside. Starting with the selection of the malt, we used the underground water from “Haigamine”, an independent mountain in Kure, which is rich in minerals, and we paid thorough attention to the manufacturing process, including the yeast used, long fermentation time, and the use of carefully selected distillation equipment.
Oloroso casks were selected among sherry casks to enhance the flavor of the whiskey. We hope you will enjoy the taste, which is further deepened by the non-chill filtered (cooled and unfiltered) finish.
Reference: Newborn Setouchi – SETOUCHI DISTILLERY
1-2. Product Specifications
| Product Name | Newborn Setouchi AGED 2 YEARS |
|---|---|
| Sake | Single Malt Newborn |
| Ingredients | Malt (Australian made) |
| Cask type | Oloroso sherry cask |
| Number of bottles | 1,200 bottles |
| Strength | 47% (with a cork) |
| Price | 8,800 yen (including tax) |
1-3. How to purchase
The product will be available for purchase only through the official online store.
Sales will begin at 10:00 a.m. on October 1, 2024
One bottle per person, released on a first-come, first-served basis.
It may be relatively easy to purchase if the timing is right!
What is Miyake Honten Co.
Miyake Honten Co., Ltd. is a company in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture that produces sake “Senpuku” and “Setouchi Lemon Gin”.
| Company Name | Miyake Honten Co. |
| Establishment | 1885 |
| Head office location | 7-9-10 Hondori, Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 737-0045, Japan |
| Owned distillery | SETOUCHI DISTILLERY |
What is SETOUCHI DISTILLERY?
| Distillery name | SETOUCHI DISTILLERY |
| Address | 7-9-10 Hondori, Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 737-0045, Japan |
| Start of operation | 2022 |
Miyake Honten, a long-established brewery that produces and sells “Senpuku,” a Japanese sake known for its commercial “How about a glass of Senpuku?
It was named SETOUCHI DISTILLERY in the hope that it will be able to transmit its products from Setouchi to the rest of the world.
The unused buildings in the factory will be renovated and used for whiskey production. The cost of the barrels and distillation equipment was approximately 100 million yen. Equipment for whiskey production was made in China. The mash tun is made of stainless steel, and the fermentation tank is also made of stainless steel for beer. The first distillation is done in a pot still and the second distillation is done in a hybrid still.
The whisky is named “Setouchi,” which is also the place of production, and single malt whisky is produced.
The whisky is made with water pumped from a well 60 meters underground from Haigamine, an independent peak at 737 meters above sea level. The high-quality water, which contains just the right amount of minerals, is classified as soft water and is soft, mild, and easy to drink. The annual production is equivalent to 100 230-liter barrels.
In September 2021, the company released ” Craft Gin Setouchi, ” which has been highly acclaimed.
 Image credit: Official Facebook |
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4. Summary
The distillery started up with distillery facilities in an amazingly fast time, only about a year from the start of planning to the acquisition of a manufacturing license and operation. The gin has a high cosmetic quality and a wonderful aroma and taste, and there are high expectations for the whiskey as well.
The whisky is aged in sherry casks, which is clothed in the air of the Seto Inland Sea. There is a lot of information to be gained from Newborn, such as what the flavor will be like and the speed of aging in Kure, a city with a mild climate and not much precipitation.
This product, however, is priced a bit lower, as is the gin. The production volume is small and the distillery is small, but it can be said that the price and sales method are aimed at the demand for home drinking.
This distillery is one to watch in the future, so if you are interested, please give them a try.
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.
