YUZA Distillery in Yamagata Prefecture will release a blended product as a standard item. YUZA Signature Blend is one of the representative products of the distillery.
The Yuza Distillery in Yamagata Prefecture is one of the smallest distilleries in Japan, and they have announced the release of a Japanese blended whisky as their standard product.
It seems to be composed of a higher percentage of grain than the previously released Classical Blend, but how does it taste?
1. YUZA Signature Blend
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1-1. Product Information
YUZA Signature Blend, a blended Japanese whisky, will be released in early March 2025.
It is a rich blend of domestically produced grain whisky and a variety of malt whisky aged at the Yuza distillery, including Mizunara oak barrels.
The sweet and fruity aromas and flavors typical of the Yuza distillery can be enjoyed in this bottle, which is worthy of its signature name.
Please enjoy a relaxing moment with a cup full of Yuza’s character.Aroma and Taste Characteristics
The fruity and sweet aromas and flavors that symbolize the distillery are harmonized with refreshing peat nuances for a well-balanced finish.Reference: New Product Information | Yuza Distillery
1-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 48% (with a minimum of 5% alcohol by volume) |
| alcohol category | Blended Japanese Whisky |
| Cask type | Key malt: Mizunara oak |
| Content volume | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 8,250 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | Early March 2025 |
About Yuza Distillery
Yuza Distillery
This is the third whisky distillery in the Tohoku region opened by Kinryu Co. in Yusa-machi, Yamagata Prefecture in 2018.
Blessed with fresh, clean air and water from Chokai Mt. which has been selected as one of the “100 best water villages,” Yuza is a perfect place for making top-quality whisky.
The pot stills used are made by Forsyth, and five fermentation tanks are made of Canadian bay pine. The process and aging methods are also based on Scottish methods, with young whisky not being casked, and only whisky that has been fully matured to its satisfaction is produced, and only single malt is produced. Because it is a small distillery that cannot mass-produce whisky, they go to great lengths in every detail to produce the highest quality whisky with the utmost care.
Yuza Distillery Whisky
TLAS” conceptThe whisky produced at the Yuza distillery is the result of our efforts to create the highest quality whisky,
Tiny
Lovely
Authentic
Supreme
The concept of the distillery is “TLAS”, which stands for the initials of the above.The Yuza 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 that is produced using traditional methods, but with the Japanese style of “monozukuri” (craftsmanship).
Quote from Yuza’s official website
Image credit:Yuza Distillery official website
| Location of Yuza Distillery | 20 Kakujita, Yoshide, Yuza-machi, Akumi-gun, Yamagata 999-8302 |
| Start of operation | 2018 |
For more information about Yuza Distillery, please refer to this article.
3. at the end.
It is great news that YUZA is available for less than 10,000 yen. And the grain is also domestically produced. It is thought to be the same grain as the previous Classic Blend, but the distillery from which the grain is produced is still undisclosed.
We expect that a single malt in the series following YUZA Spring in Japan will be released this year, so don’t miss out on Yuza Distillery in the future.
■Please check out our other articles about Yuza Distillery.
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.
