Mention the name Hakkaisan and any Sake lover would instantly recognise the name. Uonuma? Not so much. Yet the historic Sake maker sure knows how to make a splash - with its inaugural whisky debut an 8 Year Old Japanese Single Grain Whisky.

An 8 year long wait is entirely impressive and speaks volumes to the brewery/distillery's commitment to making sure that its whisky has aged as much as they believe is necessary upon release.

The 2025 Edition Uonuma Single Grain Japanese Whisky is made primarily with rice, and is fermented using Sake yeast, as well as high quality Raiden-sama no Shimizu water. It is said to deliver sweet aromas reminiscent of vanilla and flowers. It is bottled at 52% ABV and is priced at 13,200 Yen (US$88), and will go on sale via lottery that will run from 9 AM, 28 March 2025, to 9 AM, 9 April 2025.

Official Tasting Notes

Color: Amber

Aroma: Citrus followed by a sweet aroma reminiscent of chocolate and vanilla

Taste: Subtle sweetness from rice, dried fruit, spicy taste like nutmeg, bitter caramel.

Fukazawahara Distillery in Uonuma no Sato

With Japanese whisky taking off, and even now filing for GI status. It's unsurprising that one of Japan's foremost Sake breweries has gotten in on the action, and to signal their commitment to whiskymaking, they have not one but two distilleries - the Fukazawahara Distillery in Uonuma no Sato, and the Niseko Distillery.

The latest 8 Year Old Single Grain Japanese Rice Whisky therefore comes from the Fukazawahara DIstillery which was already producing Shochu since 2005, and had obtained a whisky distilling license in 2016 and had gotten started then.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team