Ontake Distillery in Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, owned by Nishi Shuzo, releases an unexpected bourbon barrel-aged whiskey.
The characteristics and list price are also introduced.
Ontake distillery is the third distillery in Kyushu after Tsunuki and Kanosuke.
We have introduced that they matured their whiskey only in old sherry casks, but it seems that they also produced whiskey matured in bourbon barrels. The amount of production in bourbon barrels seems to be quite small and the sales volume is not large.
Lottery sales of Ontake THE FIRST EDITION BOURBON BARRELS to the general public from the official website is in preparation. (Scheduled for 10/1.) When the lottery starts, it will be held at the Ontake Distillery. When it starts, you will receive a notice in the NEWS LETTER of ONTAKE SHOP of Ontake distillery.
Product name and photo
Ontake The First Edition BOURBON BARRELS
御岳 The First Edition BOURBON BARRELS 
Features of ONTAKE THE FIRST EDITION BOURBON BARRELS
Ontake’s Choice of Special Bourbon Barrels
New pot is not the only thing that Ontake puts its heart and soul into. Barrels” are also one of the most important ingredients.
The special bourbon barrels we choose are barrels used to age bourbon whiskey 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.
We are proud of our new pots and the special bourbon barrels selected by Ontake.
Please enjoy the “marriage” of Ontake’s New Pot and the special bourbon barrels selected by Ontake.Tasting Notes
In addition to the sweet aroma of dried apricots and raisins, it has a complex and powerful aroma of hazelnuts and nutmeg.
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.
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2-1. Tasting Notes
Aroma Maple, quince, nuts, raisins, dried prunes, and some non-bourbon notes. Taste Dominated by sponge cake and wasanbon-like sweetness, with pineapple-like acidity and flavor. Aftertaste Spicy and woody, with a hint of hazelnuts lingering in the glass at the end of the sip. 2-2. Product Specifications
| Product name | Ontake The First Edition BOURBON BARRELS |
| By Sake | Single Malt Whiskey |
| Barrel | Bourbon Barrels |
| Alcohol Content | 43% alcohol by volume |
| Suggested Retail Price | 14,300 yen (tax included) |
3. award-winning history
No awards received at this time.
4. List Price and Online Price
4-1. Suggested Retail Price (List Price)
| Product name | Ontake The First Edition BOURBON BARRELS |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 14,300 yen (including tax) |
Resale price on Mercari
Resale price on Mercari is currently not available and will be investigated again after the official release. (*As of 9/24/2024)
4-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auction
There are no current listings on Yahoo! Auctions at this time (*as of 9/24/2024).
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
No listings are currently confirmed. (*As of 9/24/2024)
4-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, one cup, 45ml: 4,290 yen 30ml: 2,860 yen, 15ml: 1,430 yen, etc. are offered in small quantities .
5. Manufacturer
Nishi Shuzo Co.
| Location | 4970-17 Yosikura, Fukiage-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima |
| Founded | Koka 2 (1845) |
| Line of business: Shochu (Tominohozan, etc.), Sake, Whiskey | Production and sales of authentic shochu (Tominohozan, etc.), sake, whiskey, wine, liqueurs, and spirits |
About Ontake Distillery
| Location | 12300 Shimofukumoto-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Start of operation | 2019 |
Kagoshima Golf Resort was acquired in February 2011; in 2019, a whiskey distilling facility was built 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 ” 尽～tsukusu-“ which was created by extracting a total of 24 botanicals.
(Image exhibit: Ontake Distillery’s official website )
7. Summary
Non-chill filtered, natural color, the coloring seen from the bottle was reddish and cloudy. It has a bourbon-like flavor, but also a sherry-like element, which may be due to the fruity part derived from Ontake’s original sake?
This product was made with only 1ST Fill Bourbon, and it is easy to drink even for beginners, and it is a bourbon-aged Japanese whiskey with a taste that has never been seen before, so it is one that whiskey lovers should try.
For past Ontake products, 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.
