The release information of the new product, “Single Malt Whisky Ryuka NEW BORN 2023”, was updated on the official Instagram of Shinzato Shuzo Co., Ltd. It was aged for 1 year and 3 months in Oloroso sherry casks and 3 months in Spanish oak casks for a total of 1 year and 6 months. The aging process in the subtropical zone of Okinawa is very humid and the Angel’s Share is approximately 10%. It will be on sale in one week. The limited number of bottles has not been announced, but it will be 700ml, 11,000 yen including tax.
1. Where can I buy it?
Currently, there are two confirmed locations: the blog page of Shuho-Ooba’s online store and Daimaru Matsuzakaya’s online store.
■Shuho-Ooba online store
If orders are oversubscribed, sales will be by lottery. Click here for the detailed blog page.
Application period: Wednesday, May 31.
Lottery results: “Winners only” will be notified on Thursday, June 1.
■Daimaru Matsuzakaya Online Store
Listed as a Father’s Day gift. There is no particular lottery information, and delivery will be made at the designated date and time between Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18. Click here for details.
Purchase period: Saturday, June 10, until 10:00 a.m.
Delivery period: Saturday, June 17 or Sunday, June 18
2. Single Malt Whisky Ryuka NEW BORN 2023
A new release of single malt whisky with tropical nuances produced in subtropical Okinawa. The rich and complex flavor of the original has been further enhanced and adjusted so that the aroma opens up the moment it is placed in the glass. You will enjoy the aroma of berry dried fruits such as raisins, oranges, boiled jam, and dark chocolate derived from sherry casks, the spicy and exotic aroma derived from Spanish virgin oak casks, and the powerful, rich, and heavy flavor unique to the original spirit.
| Product name | Single Malt Whisky Ryuka NEW BORN 2023 |
| Distinction by alcohol | New born |
| Raw materials | Malt (British malt) |
| Cask Type | Oloroso sherry casks, Spanish oak casks |
| Number of bottles | Limited quantity |
| Alcoholic content | 58％ |
| Price | 11,000 yen (tax included) |
| Manufactory | Suzaki Distillery |
| Manufacturer | Shinzato Shuzo Co., Ltd. |
3. About Suzaki Distillery
Established in 1846, Okinawa’s oldest Awamori brewery, Shinzato Shuzo, built a distillery at the southernmost tip of Japan.
The “Shinzato WHISKY” currently on sale is a whisky made by blending overseas blended whisky with a few percent of the so-called “Awamori” from the Shinzato Shuzo, Awamori aged for 13 years in sherry casks.
“NEW MAKE Shinzato”, distilled in-house, will be released in April 2021. The limited run of 350 bottles sold out immediately.
Pot stills are used in combination with those used to distill Awamori. Currently, they have three pot stills. Three types of casks are used for maturation (specifics are unknown, but probably sherry and bourbon casks), and they intend to sell it as whisky after three years of maturation. The company produces one batch of whisky every day. Click here for the official Instagram
4. Other products from Suzaki Distillery, Shinzato Shuzo
4-1. Shinzato Whisky
Shinzato WHISKEY is a product born from the desire to “create a whisky that is unique to Okinawa and can only be made by Okinawa’s oldest brewery.” Spirits based on 13-year old Awamori stored in oak casks are blended with an overseas (Scotland) blended whisky base, adding a delicate, soft sweetness derived from rice to the strong flavor of malt. By using new heavy charred oak casks, the rich and mellow flavor is created by the complex interplay of the vanilla aroma derived from old Awamori sake and the vanilla aroma derived from the oak casks.
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.
