Lottery for Ontake THE FIRST EDITION BOURBON BARRELS from Ontake Distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture will start on July 17.
Ontake Distillery is the third distillery in Kyushu after Tsunuki and Kanosuke.
It was said to be aged only in old sherry casks, but the second release is now in bourbon barrels.
Lottery start date and time: Wednesday, July 17, 2023
Details on the start time and other details are currently unknown, but the last lottery entry was made through the official online store.
1. Manufacturer
Nishi Shuz Co.
| Location | 4970-17 Yosikura, Fukiage-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima, Japan |
| Founded in | Koka 2 (1845) |
| Line of business | Production and sales of authentic shochu (Tominohozan, etc.), sake, whisky, wine, liqueurs, and spirits |
2. About Ontake Distillery
| Location | 12300 Shimofukumoto-cho, Kagoshima city, Kagoshima pref. |
| Start of operation | 2019 |
Acquired Kagoshima Golf Resort in February 2011; built a whisky distilling facility within the golf resort in 2019.
This will be the third distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture, following Hombo Shuzo’s Mars Tsunuki Distillery and Komasa Brewery’s Kanosuke Distillery. “Ontake” refers to Sakurajima, which seems to be the official name of Sakurajima since ancient times. The distillery is located on a hilltop overlooking Kinko Bay and Ontake (Sakurajima) with over 1,000 liters of natural soft water gushing out every minute.
There are two pot stills, one for first distillation and one for redistillation. The line arms of both stills are designed to face upward, so that heavy flavor components are removed and only “fruity and deep flavor components” are extracted. The distillery’s goal is to use a clean, mouthwatering new pot, with a mellow fruit aroma, a balanced flavor, and a clear mouthfeel that glides down the throat.
The distillery also made a splash in 2019 with the release of a craft gin called “尽～tsukusu-” which is the result of extracting a total of 24 different botanicals.
Image source: Ontake Distillery’s official website
3. Product Specifications
Quote: Ontake Distillery official website
.
| Product Name | Ontake THE FIRST EDITION BOURBON BARRELS |
| Distinction by alcohol | Single malt whisky |
| Barrels | Bourbon Barrels |
| Alcohol Content | 43% |
| Suggested Retail Price | 14,300 yen (tax included) |
Ontake’s Special Bourbon Barrel of Choice
New pot is not the only thing that Ontake puts its heart and soul into. “Barrels” are another important raw material.
The special bourbon barrels we choose are barrels used to age bourbon whisky produced in Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA.
We visit the area to see each barrel with our own eyes and smell the charred interior,
We also get to know the personalities of the people who work there, and carefully select only the best 1st Fill Bourbon barrels.
Furthermore, the repair of the barrels is also an original order. Each barrel is meticulously maintained by our craftsmen.
The new pot of Ontake and the special bourbon barrels selected by Ontake are produced with the utmost care and attention.
Please enjoy the “marriage” of Ontake’s New Pot and the special bourbon barrels selected by Ontake.Tasting Notes
The sweet aroma of dried apricots and raisins, as well as hazelnuts and nutmeg, gives this bourbon a complex and powerful aromatic quality.
The palate is smooth, with flavors developing toward the finish,
The palate is smooth, with a spicy accent that leads to a smooth finish.Citation: Ontake THE FIRST EDTION BOURBON BARRELS | Nishi Shuzo Co.
Other distilleries in Kyushu and Okinawa area, click here.
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.
