Single Malt Whisky from Helios Shuzo in Okinawa, Japan
The rum cask finish of the “Kyoda” series is now available.
This whisky is matured in a subtropical environment and made from aged rum casks produced by the company.
1. Photo of the bottle and the website where it can be purchased
Single Malt Whisky KYODA Rum Cask Finish
Single Malt Whisky KYODA Rum Cask Finish 
Click here for the distillery’s direct sales page.
2. Characteristics of Single Malt Whisky Kyoda Rum Cask Finish
This single malt whisky is brewed and distilled at Helios Shuzo in KYODA, Nago-City, OkiNawa Prefecture. The label is inspired by the pre-dawn atmosphere of the mountains near the distillery, and the name of the area, Kyoda, is expressed in strong brush strokes. This “Single Malt Whisky Kyoda Rum Cask Finish” is a Whisky with a smoky aroma and deep flavor derived from beet malt. fragranceIt is a “cask strength” whisky that is not watered down to the original cask alcohol content. It is finished with a cask of Helios’ signature rum, TEEDA.
Please enjoy this single malt whisky, which Master Prender has put all his effort into.
Aroma
Chocolate brownie, caneleFirst attack
Brown sugar, almondsAftertaste
Koshi An, sponge cakePairing
Dried fruits, cookies
Quotes: Excerpts from product literature
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2-1. Tasting Notes
Fragrance Warm fondant chocolate, hazelnut, whole grain cookie Flavor caramelized three-temperature sugar, crème brûlée, cloves, salted mango with water Afterglow Sweet and bitter rum barrel character and pleasantly soft peat flavor lingers for a long time. 2-2. Product Specifications
Alcohol Content 56.3% alcohol by volume Types of Alcohol Single Malt Japanese Whisky Types of Barrels Aged in white oak barrels
Post-aged: Rum casks (casks aged in dark rum TEEDA 21)Content volume 700ml Number of bottles sold Limited to 100 bottles at online store MSRP 16,500 yen (tax included)
3. Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
4. Price
4-1. Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Single Malt Whisky Kyoda Rum Cask Finish |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | Tax included: 16,500 yen |
4-2. Resale price on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari ranges from 16,500 yen to 18,000 yen. (*As of 202512/3)
4-3. Yahoo Auction Sold Price
Yahoo Auctions were confirmed to be selling at fixed prices. (*As of 202512//3)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
Mail order sites listed the item at about 17,000 yen. (*As of 202512//3)
It is still available for purchase from the official website at the regular price, so we recommend you to go there as well.
4-5. Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, we offer small quantities such as 45ml: 3,630 yen, 30ml: 2,420 yen, and 15ml: 1,210 yen per glass.
5. Manufacturer
Helios Shuzo Co.
| Established | 1961 |
| Head office location | 405 Aza Kyoda, Nago-City, Okinawa 905-0024, Japan |
| Owned distillery | Helios Shuzo Distillery |
6. Distillery
Kyoda Distillery
| Location | 405, Kyoda, Nago-City, Okinawa 905-0024, Japan |
| Start of operation | 2016 (Whisky production resumed) |
The distillery is located in Nago-City, Okinawa Prefecture. The impressive Okinawan red-tiled building appears at the end of the road through the village of “Kohenzoko”, surrounded by green forests and colorful Okinawan vegetation.
Helios Shuzo, which currently holds six licenses for sake production, offers a wide variety of products under the motto “sake entertainer rooted in the community” in its pursuit of sake brewing that will last for a hundred years.
The first thing we are particular about in sake brewing is water. In search of abundant nature and clean water, the company found KYODA, Nago-City, Okinawa Prefecture, where it has been brewing sake since ancient times. Surrounded by the ancient Yanbaru forest, Kyoda has been called the “Water city”. The rain that falls in the forest soaks deep into the earth, storing minerals in the soil, and is slowly released into the river over a long period of time. Helios Shuzo’s sake is brewed using pure, natural water from the upper reaches of the river that runs behind the Shuzo.
The representative product is ” Kura,” an old Awamori sake, which has been a long-seller for 30 years since its launch in 1991.
The company also sells a Whisky called “Kura” with the same name.
History
1961 Taiyo Brewing established in Naha-City. Produces rum made from Okinawan sugarcane.
1963 Begins production of Whisky
1969 Company name changed to Helios Shuzo Co.
1972 Head office and factory relocated to current location in Aza Kyoda, Nago-City
1991 Utilizing the barrel-aging technology cultivated in the Western-style alcohol business, the company launched Kura, an oak barrel-aged Awamori.
We are a Shuzo with a long history. For a detailed history of the company, click here.
Image exhibit: Helios Shuzo official website
For more information about the Kyoda distillery, see also here ↓.
7. Summary
When poured into a glass, the chocolate aroma is surprisingly dominant, more so than expected.
While the previous Kyoda Rum Cask Finish 2022 had fresh nuances of sourness and sweetness,
this product features a long-aged rum cask finish, peated malt, and a cask strength design.
The aroma and flavor will change even richer with the passage of time.
We hope you will enjoy this bottle straight up and take your time to enjoy the sensual chocolate aroma.
We are planning to visit the Kyoda distillery in January and report on our visit. Please look forward to it.
Please check out our other articles about “Kyoda” as well.
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.
