Private cask in Shizuoka owned by BAR Shinkai.Two distillers [K] and [W] are finally bottled.
The taste of distiller [K] is reviewed.
Private cask sales in Shizuoka have been taking place for some time.
Distillation took place in November 2021 and bottling was completed on May 14, 2025. 3 years and 6 months of aging.
As with the Ichiro’s Malt & Grain BAR Shinkai 15th Anniversary Bottle introduced previously, our bartender Azuma was in charge of the label design this time as well.
The distiller K’s label features the “Rainbow Bridge” motif.
１．Photos of bottles and labels
Single Cask Shizuoka Potstill K x Japanese Barley for BAR Shinkai
Single Cask SHIZUOKA Potstill K×Japanese Barley for BAR SHINKAI 
２．Single Cask Shizuoka Potstill K x Japanese Barley for BAR Shinkai
The Shizuoka distillery, which began operations in 2016, is truly a distillery that carries on the lineage of the legendary Karuizawa distillery, where a pot still from that distillery was won at auction and revived as “Pot Still K” after an overhaul.
Ironically, the remaining distillate from the “Karuizawa distillery” ended up in the hands of a British distributor, but a few years later, the first “Karuizawa 1960” was sold for 2 million yen and is now said to be sold for over 50 million yen.
It is distilled by the legendary Karuizawa distiller “Pot Still K”.The raw material used is “Japanese barley”,It has been aged only 3 years since it was casked in 2021,but because it is aged in small Octave (50L) barrels, it has reached its full maturity in a short period of time.
In addition to the official Shizuoka Distillery label, we also created our own original label for the bottle.
As with the previous Ichiro’s Malt PB, our bartender Azuma was in charge of the design, which was inspired by the Rainbow Bridge, a symbol of Tokyo’s Minato Ward, where BAR Shinkai is located.We hope you will enjoy this private bottle from Shizuoka Distillery, which is in the lineage of Karuizawa.
Hiroyuki Shinkai, Owner, BAR Shinkai
２－１．Tasting Notes
| fragrance | Mineral aroma, green apple, tortoiseshell candy, new wooden furniture. |
| flavor | White grapes, papaya, vanilla ice cream, cereal, ginger |
| aftertaste | Fruity and vanilla-like sweet richness persists. |
２－２．Product Specs
| alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) | 55.9% |
| distinction by alcohol | Single Cask Japanese Whisky |
| cask-type | bourbon barrel |
| distillation still | Initial distillation【W】Re-distillation【S】 |
| Years of aging | Approximately 3 years and 6 months |
| Volume content | 700ml |
| Number of bottles | 50 bottles |
２－３．Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, we offer it in small quantities: 45 ml per glass: 3,300 yen, 30 ml: 2,220 yen, and 15 ml: 1,110 yen.
４．Who is Gaia Flow Distilling Co.
“Gaia Flow Distilling Co.” was established in 2014 to produce whisky.The group company, Gaiaflow Corporation, also imports and sells whisky.
| Company Name | Gaia Flow Distilling Co. |
| Establishment | October 8, 2014 |
| Head Office Location | 555 Ochiai, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 421-2223, Japan |
| Distilleries owned | Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery |
５．What is Pot Still “K”?
This is a wash still (first distillation pot still) used at the now legendary Karuizawa distillery.
One of four distillers that existed at the Karuizawa Whisky Distillery, which was closed in 2011.The three units were actually reassembled by combining parts in good condition.The pot still itself was used as a redistillation pot still.
The head and line arms are long relative to the size of the pot still, giving it a unique shape.Combined with distillation by indirect steam heating, it produces a light, fruity, and ethereal liquor.
references：Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery Official HP
６．summary
When just poured, the wine has a slightly hard impression, with the esthetic nuances characteristic of K-type wines rising immediately.
Fruity, with sweet and gentle aromas of vanilla and toffee derived from bourbon barrels.
Adding water opens up the aroma at once and brings out the freshness as well as the gentle sweetness derived from Japanese barley.The impression changes dramatically with each way of drinking, allowing you to take your time and enjoy it.The result is a bottle that is both gentle and deep.
At the same time, we are also releasing a [W] version of non-peat Japanese barley.
https://jpwhisky.net/shizuoka-shinka-pb-w-51185/
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.
