Maoi Distillery To Release Landmark Three Year Old Japanese Single Malt Whiskies Metamorphosis & Audax With Hokkaido Malt
Maoi distillery will launch two new expressions in its historic "Metamorphosis" series, entailing two 3-year-aged Japanese single malts: Audax, crafted with 100% Hokkaido malt and aged in sherry casks, and Bishop, featuring 100% UK malt aged in bourbon casks.
Established in March 2006 on the Maoi Hills of Naganuma Town, this winery was at the time said to be the smallest in Japan, producing wine primarily from wild grape varieties on a 0.5-hectare plot. In 2017, Maoi Jiyu no Oka Winery was established to take over the business. Since then, approximately 15 hectares of pastureland have been developed, with the aim of producing wines suited to this terroir. In the winter of 2021, the company was renamed MAOI Co., Ltd., and will now offer everything from wine to spirits as Maoi Distillery.
The distillery says that the maturation process for the expressions are defined by the unique microclimates across three distinct aging sites at the Maoi Distillery: the Shelter, a former underground winery shelter offering stable temperatures and high humidity; the Cellar, located on the distillery's first floor, which experiences marked seasonal swings in heat and moisture; and the Terrace, situated on the second floor, where direct exposure to sunlight and diurnal temperature shifts promotes continuous barrel convection.
Each environment interacts differently with the oak and spirit, allowing Maoi to dial in precise flavor profiles through targeted aging environments rather than cask selection alone.
In the later stages of maturation, some of the spirit is transferred to smaller quarter casks, and each cask is then placed in a different maturation environment to alter the character of the spirit. A non-chill filtration and non-filter process is employed, preserving the unique flavors of each spirit during bottling.
The Audax uses 100% non-peated Hokkaido malt from Nakashibetsu Town as its base. After aging for more than three years in 225L Oloroso sherry hogsheads (blending of spirits aged a minimum of 3 years and 6 months and a maximum of 3 years and 9 months), a portion of the spirit is recasked into smaller Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry quarter casks to intensify its sherry profile prior to bottling.
Bottled at 50% ABV, 1,000 bottles were produced each with an MSRP of 15,840 yen.
Meanwhile, the Bishop is made with 100% non-peated malt from the UK, this expression matures for 3 years and 10 months in 200-liter American standard bourbon barrels. To build additional structure and oak intensity, a portion of the spirit undergoes a secondary maturation period in smaller bourbon quarter casks during the final stages of aging.
Bottled at 50% ABV, 1,300 bottles were produced each with an MSRP of 11,990 yen.
The expressions can be found at liquor stores and online shops, as well as at the Maoi Distillery's official online shop and direct sales outlet. Shipping is scheduled to begin after mid-November 2026, with general sales starting Dec 2026.
Kanpai
88 Bamboo Editorial Team
