Long-awaited 1st release from Yoshida Denzai, a domestic craft grain distillery, available from December 15, 2012. Introducing a limited edition of 4,000 bottles of single grain whisky.
Yoshida Denzai Distillery is the first craft whisky distillery in Japan dedicated exclusively to grain whisky. Grain whisky is made from grains other than malt and is mainly produced for blended whisky. In order to create a uniquely Japanese flavor, rice, buckwheat and other local specialty grains are used to produce this whisky.
This 1st release is a whisky made mainly from dent corn.
1. single grain 1year 1st
Made from 70% Hokkaido dent corn, 15% rye malt, and 15% barley malt, and aged for one year in new American white oak barrels.
Enjoy the gradation of flavors created from the three grains and multiple barrels.(Reference: Official comment from the manufacturer) 2.
2. Product Specifications
| Product name | Single Grain 1year 1st |
| Sake type | Single Grain Japanese whisky |
| Barrel liquor | New American white oak barrels |
| Number of bottles | 4,000 bottles |
| Capacity | 250ml |
| Alcohol Content | 55% alcohol by volume |
| Suggested Retail Price | 3,960 yen (tax included) |
Tasting notes
AROMA
Chocolate-coated apple candy. Pears. L’Ecce.
TASTE
A broth-like flavor develops, with a discreet spiciness. Sweetness of compote and a slight solvent nuance.
FINISH
Raisins, tortoiseshell candy, and cinnamon blend together in a smooth, clear, and pleasant finish.
3. Manufacturer
3-1. Yoshida Denzai Distillery Co.
| Established | 1940 (Showa 15) |
| Head office location |
3-43-6 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0016, Japan |
| Owned distillery |
Yoshida Denzai Distillery |
3-2. Yoshiden Corporation
| Established | 2017 (Heisei 29) |
| Head office location |
166-1 Shiozawa, Tainai City, Niigata 959-2804 |
| Owned distillery | Yoshida Denzai Distillery |
3-3 Yoshida Denzai Distillery
| Address | 344-1 Yazuta, Murakami-city, Niigata 959-3435 |
| Start of business | April 2022 |
| Official HP | Yoshida Denzai Distillery Official HP |
Yoshida Denzai Distillery was established by Yoshida Denzai Kogyo K.K., which manufactures and sells electrical equipment, manufactures and processes synthetic resins, and manufactures and sells medical equipment, and its subsidiary Yoshiden Co. The building of a semiconductor factory previously purchased was used for the facility, with a total floor area of approximately 1090 m2.
Murakami City in Niigata Prefecture has short summers, very cold winters, and high humidity throughout the year. The former Asahi Village area is designated as a special heavy snowfall area, while other areas are designated as heavy snowfall areas. It also faces the Sea of Japan and is surrounded by mountainous areas such as Nihonkuni, which is known as a treasure trove of wild vegetables, as well as the villages of Budo and Rai, and is blessed with spring water.
Yoshida Denzai Distillery aims to produce honest, high quality, and particular whisky with the technical skills that have underpinned Japanese manufacturers.
In addition to using German-made hybrid pot stills, the distillery has proprietary equipment that allows it to freely mix three types of grains in the raw material processing process.
Dent corn is currently the main grain used, but the company also produces grains made from rice, buckwheat noodles, and other grains unique to Japan, as well as grains made from domestic specialty grains.
The product produced is grain whisky.
The company will develop two types of grain whisky: “Loud Grain®,” an assertive grain whisky that brings out the flavor of grains, and “Small Batch Grain®,” a product that transmits various attempts at small-batch production.
The company also supplies sake to craft distilleries in Japan, which is an indispensable part of “Japanese blended whisky.
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.
