Private cask in Shizuoka owned by BAR Shinkai.Two distillation still’s [K] and [W] are finally bottled.
The taste of distillation still [W] 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 W’s label features a “Tokyo Tower” motif.

１．Photos of bottles and labels

Single Cask Shizuoka Potstill W x Japanese Barley for BAR Shinkai
Single Cask SHIZUOKA Potstill K×Japanese Barley for BAR SHINKAI

２．Single Cask Shizuoka Potstill W x Japanese Barley for BAR Shinkai

The Shizuoka distillery, which began operations in 2016, is truly a distillery in the lineage of the Karuizawa distillery, having won the auction for the legendary Karuizawa distillery pot still and overhauled it to revive it as “Pot Still K”.

In contrast to the “Pot Still K,” the Shizuoka Distillery has another distillation unit.
Pot Still W” is the world’s only wood-fired direct-heating “pot still” that uses wood.
The distillate is distilled at a considerably higher temperature than the general indirect heating distillation, producing a thicker and mellower flavor.

Distilled using the world’s first “pot still W“.The raw material used is “Japanese barley”, and although it has only been in barrels for three years since 2021, the small Octave (50L) barrels have allowed it to reach 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 Higashi was in charge of the design, which was inspired by the “Tokyo Tower,” a symbol of Tokyo’s Minato Ward, where BAR Shinkai is located.

We hope you will enjoy this private bottle from Shizuoka Distillery, the only distillery in the world to use direct wood-fired heating.

Hiroyuki Shinkai, Owner, BAR Shinkai

２－１．Tasting Notes

２－２．Product Specs

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.

５．What is Pot Still “W”?

This is a wash still (first distillation kettle) made by Forsyth in Scotland.

The distillate is distilled over an open wood fire, a method that is rare in the world.This is a very old method that was used more than 200 years ago, when moonshining was still commonplace in Scotland and only small distillation machines were available.

Shizuoka has expanded the scale of the distillation process and brought it back to the present day.In a large kamado (hearth) under the distiller, a lot of wood is burned and the kettle is heated by a flame.The heat inside is intense, reaching nearly 800 degrees Celsius.The extremely high temperatures scorch the wash, making the original wine mellow and powerful, and giving it a long, lingering, toasty aroma.
The wood for fuel comes from thinned logs from the local mountains, which are split in the distillery and then allowed to dry naturally for several months.The bounty of Shizuoka’s mountains creates a unique whisky!
引用：Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery Official HP

６．summary

It has an interesting aroma of sweet chestnuts, smoky nuances, and mustard-like acidity.When watered down, a strong citrus element can be felt.
We hope you will enjoy it straight or on the rocks to preserve the sweetness and richness.