A collaboration whisky between Yusa Distillery and Asahimachi Wine Co.
The single malt Japanese whisky “YUZA Asahimachi Wine Barrel Aged Whisky” will be released in a limited quantity of 5,000 180ml bottles. The release date is August 2.
The project was made possible by Yamagata Sake Wholesaler Co.
The official website of the Yusa Distillery states
“This product will be sold only in Yamagata Prefecture. Please understand.”
but it seems that the product is sold at liquor stores in Yamagata Prefecture on Rakuten Ichiba and other online retailers.
1. How to purchase
In this store Sales will begin at 9:00 a.m. on August 2. The price is limited to 1 bottle per person. Limit one per person.
2. Single Malt Japanese Whisky “YUZA Asahimachi Wine Barrel Aged Whisky”
YUZA Asahimachi Wine Barrel Aged Whisky is a unique “Yamagata” product created through a collaboration of Yamagata Prefecture’s sake makers, in which YUZA distillery’s own original sake is aged for more than three years in red wine barrels used by Asahimachi Wine. The result is a deep flavor with the sweetness of malt blended with the gorgeous flavor of wine.
Reference: Collaboration Project Product Information｜Yusa Distillery
|
Product name |
YUZA Asahimachi wine barrel-aged whisky |
|---|---|
| Sake type | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Ingredients | Malt |
| Barrel type | Red wine casks |
| Number of bottles | Limited to 5,000 bottles |
| Strength | 48% (48%) |
| Price | Suggested retail price: 2,970 yen (tax included) |
| Manufactured at |
Yusa Distillery |
| Producer | Kinryu Co. |
3. About Yusa Distillery
Kinryu Co., Ltd. opened its third whisky distillery in the Tohoku region in Yusa-machi, Yamagata Prefecture in 2018.
Yusa-cho is blessed with fresh and clean air and water from Mt. Chokai, which has been selected as one of the “100 best water villages” in Japan, and is suitable for producing the highest quality whisky.
The pot stills used are made by Forsyth, there are five fermentation tanks, and Canadian bay pine is used. The process and aging methods are also based on the Scottish method, with young whisky not being casked and only whisky that has been fully matured to the point of satisfaction being bottled. Focusing only on single malt whisky The distillery is a small distillery where mass production is not possible. Because we are a small distillery that cannot mass produce, we go to great lengths in every detail to produce the highest quality whisky with the utmost attention to detail.
Yusa Distillery Whisky
The “TLAS” conceptThe whisky produced at the Yusa Distillery is
Tiny
Lovely
Authentic
Supreme
The concept of the Yusa distillery is “TLAS”, which stands for the initials of the above.Yusa Distillery is a very small distillery for a whisky distillery, with a site area of approximately 4,550 square meters and a distillery area of approximately 620 square meters. The exterior of the distillery may look small and cute, but the whisky produced here is authentic and of the highest quality. It is a one-of-a-kind Japanese whisky produced using traditional methods, but with the Japanese spirit of “monozukuri” (craftsmanship).
Quote from Yusa’s official website
4. Yusa Distillery’s Whiskies Released in the Past
4-1. YUZA First Edition 2022
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.
