Ontake Distillery in Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, owned by Nishi Shuzo, has finally released its first distillery single malt whisky [Ontake THE FIRST EDITION 2023], available for sale by lottery starting December 20.
Ontake Distillery, the third distillery in Kyushu after Tsunuki and Kanosuke, has finally announced the release of its single malt whiskey, which will be available in 2019.
Lottery sales start date and time: Wednesday, December 20, 2023, from 11:00 a.m.
Lottery sales from the official online store.
1. Manufacturer
Nishi Shuzo Co., Ltd.
| Location | 4970-17 Yosikura, Fukiage-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima |
| Founded | Koka 2 (1845) |
| Business | Production and sales of authentic shochu (Tominohouzan, etc.), sake, whisky, wine, liqueurs, and spirits |
2. About Ontake Distillery
| Location | 12300 Shimofukumoto-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Start of operation | 2019 |
In February 2011, the company acquired the Kagoshima Golf Resort; in 2019, it built a whisky distilling facility within the golf resort.
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 “tsukusu” which was created by extracting a total of 24 botanicals.
(Image source: Ontake Distillery’s official website )
3. Product specifications
| Product name | Ontake THE FIRST EDITION 2023 |
| Sake type | Single malt whisky |
| Cask Sake | Old sherry casks |
| Alcohol content | 43% |
| Suggested Retail Price | 14,300 yen (tax included) |
Ontake Distillery’s first single malt Japanese whisky, which is the result of 180 years of distilling technology, is now complete.
“This is Japanese whisky.” We want to make something that we can proudly say that about. Our whisky making started from that pure desire. The first bottle has finally been completed.
“It’s not about aiming for the world. It will be the whisky the world wants.”
We will bring you a genuine Japanese whisky from the land of Satsuma that will convince even those who have drunk it.
Tasting Notes
Beautifully clear, slightly reddish amber color. The aroma is very aromatic and rich, with rich sweetness like baked apple, pear compote, and apricot, freshness like citrus peel, spice, and toasty savory notes woven together in a well-balanced manner.
Reference: Ontake Distillery official website
For other distilleries in Kyushu and Okinawa area, click here.
