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Kumamoto Prefecture’s first whisky distillery.
Introducing the flavor profile and product details of Yamaga Peated 2026 Edition.
The Yamaga Distillery is a whisky distillery that was completed in November 2021.
After approximately four years, its first single malt has finally been released.
This peated whisky is the second release from the distillery.
With its distinctive bottle design and theme, what kind of flavor does this product offer?
1. Photos of the Bottle and Label
Single Malt Japanese Whisky YAMAGA Peated 2026 Edition
Single Malt Japanesewhisky YAMAGA Peated 2026 Edition
2. Single Malt Japanese Whisky Yamaga Peated 2026 Edition
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Yamaga Distillery Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kaou-machi, Yamaga-City, Kumamoto Prefecture : President and CEO: Masafumi Hombo) will launch “Single Malt Japanese Whisky Yamaga The First,” aged for at least three years, nationwide starting Saturday, October 4, 2025.
This product is Kumamoto Prefecture’s first single malt Japanese whisky to comply with the “Standards for the Labeling of Japanese whisky” established by the Japan Distillers Association.
■ Product Overview
It features a fruity and creamy flavor that expresses the elegance of the women dancing the Yamaga Lantern Dance.
Please enjoy this single malt Japanese whisky, nurtured by the beautiful natural environment and unique history and culture of northern Kumamoto Prefecture.Tasting Notes
● Aroma
Chocolate chiffon cake topped with vanilla cream, caramel, apple compote, and hints of maltiness
● Taste
The sweet, toasty aroma of a financier; sweet and fruity pear compote and marmalade; and the pleasant, aromatic bitterness of dark chocolate
● Finish
Vanilla chocolate with hazelnuts; a rich, sweet, and toasty aftertaste reminiscent of buttered toast
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2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Lemonade with a hint of astringency, faint notes of seaweed |
| Taste | Cacao, roasted coffee, caramel brownie |
| Finish | A smoky, dry finish reminiscent of a campfire, with notes of peach |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 55% |
| Category | Japanese Single Malt whisky |
| Cask Type | Unknown |
| Volume | 700 ml |
| Number of Bottles Sold | — |
| Suggested Retail Price | 11,000 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | July 3, 2026 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received to date.
4. List Price and Online Prices
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Single Malt Yamaga Peated 2026 Edition |
| Content Capacity | 700 ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 11,000 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
We were unable to confirm the resale price on Mercari at this time. (*As of July 16, 2026)
4-3. Winning Bid Price on Yahoo! Auctions
We were unable to confirm the winning bid price on Yahoo! Auctions at this time. (As of July 16, 2026)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, and Amazon
We confirmed that several bottles are being sold at list price on online retailers such as Amazon . (As of July 16, 2026)
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we serve even small portions, such as45 ml for 3,300 yen,30 ml for 2,200 yen, and 15 ml for 1,100 yen.
5. About Yamaga Distillery
Completed on November 6, 2021. It is the first whisky distillery in Kumamoto Prefecture.
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Operations began in 2013. Its parent company is MCA Holdings (Tokyo), which was established through the spin-off of the alcoholic beverages business from South Kyushu Coca-Cola Bottling (now Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan).Although the distillery initially produced shochu, it shifted its production to whisky following this development. With technical support from its affiliate, Hombo Shuzo (Kagoshima City), it plans to release its first single malt in 2025.
The distillery is projected to produce 150 kiloliters annually and sell 40,000 to 50,000 bottles.
The distillery was built on the site of the former shochu factory. It is a two-story steel-frame structure (total floor area: 1,257 square meters) equipped with a 4.6-meter-tall bulged pot still. It uses high-quality deep groundwater from the Kunimi Mountain Range and the Kikuchi River watershed.
The 1,043-square-meter aging warehouse features a rack system capable of storing up to 3,300 barrels, each with a capacity of approximately 200 liters. The facility also includes a viewing gallery where visitors can observe the production process and a lounge for tastings.
The total construction cost was approximately 1.1 billion yen.
At the 2025 Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC 2025), “YAMAGA NEW BORN 2024” and “Yamaga Distillery New Pot #6” won gold medals.
Click here for more information about the distillery ↓
6. In Conclusion
Although this is just my personal opinion, I feel the flavor of this particular bottle has improved dramatically.
It’s complex yet approachable and well-balanced.
I’m already looking forward to the third release.
Please also check out these other products from the Yamaga Distillery.
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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.
