The Hinokami Distillery, operated by Satsuma Shuzo in Kagoshima Prefecture. The second release is “Newborn,” a blend of bourbon and sherry cask-aged spirits.
Satsuma Shuzo is known for producing famous shochu brands such as “Satsuma Shiranami” and “Kannoko.”
The company built its distillery in 2023. With its own Cooperage, in-house grain production, and a visitor center and bar on-site, this is a whisky produced with great vigor at the southernmost tip of the mainland.
1. Photos of the bottle and label
HINOKAMI Newborn #2
HINOKAMI Newborn #2
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2. Characteristics of HINOKAMI Newborn #2
Moving beyond the brightness of #1.
Wrapped in the depth of sherry, with a finish that melts into the sea breeze.
Where youthfulness and elegance coexist,
HINOKAMI’s next step.“HINOKAMI NEWBORN #2” builds upon the brightness and vibrancy of “#1,”
and marks a new chapter for Hinokami Distillery, featuring its first blend with sherry cask-aged spirit.
The fresh fruitiness of honeyed apples, pears, and yellow peaches, combined with the brightness of rapeseed blossoms,
the concentrated notes of dried berries and raisins derived from sherry add a soft depth.
Following the playful notes of marshmallows toasted over a campfire and the refreshing hints of mint and lime peel,
smoked salted nuts, oiled leather, and
and cloves emerge in stages.
Eventually, a gentle peat reminiscent of the sea breeze in Makurazaki arrives,
quietly illuminating the essence of the Hinokami Distillery—”where fire and sea meet”—in the finish.
Embodying the coexistence of youthfulness and an elegant finish,
a special limited-edition release.
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Apple, firm peach, green tomato, mineral tablets, ginger syrup |
| Taste | Raisin pie, smoked cashews, salted green papaya |
| Finish | After a fresh, fruity sweetness, a briny saltiness and a peaty note that feels more pronounced than the numbers suggest linger |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 50% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Cask Type | Bourbon cask, Oloroso sherry cask |
| Content Capacity | 200ml |
| Number of Bottles | — |
| Suggested Retail Price | 3,850 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | April 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 | HINOKAMI Newborn #2 |
| Content Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 3,850 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
We were unable to confirm the resale price on Mercari. (As of April 21, 2026)
4-3. Yahoo! Auctions Winning Bid Price
No winning bids have been confirmed on Yahoo! Auctions at this time. (As of April 21, 2026)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon
Listings at the listed price have been confirmed on online shopping sites such as Rakuten. (As of April 21, 2026)
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer this drink at the following prices: 45ml for 3,960 yen, 30ml for 2,640 yen, and 15ml for 1,320 yen.
5. About the Distillery
| Location | 388 Hinokamikitamachi, Makurazaki-City, Kagoshima Prefecture 898-0043 |
| Access | 20-minute walk from JR Makurazaki Station |
| Start of Operations | February 2023 |
| Official Website | HINOKAMI JAPANESE WHISKY | Hinokami Distillery |
| Tours | Visitor Center available, with an on-site bar, etc. |
It is no exaggeration to say that when it comes to shochu in Kagoshima, the name “Satsuma Shiranami” is always mentioned. Satsuma Shuzo Co., Ltd., famous for this shochu, obtained a whisky production license in December 2022.
They began producing malt whisky in February 2023.
As early as November 2023, they plan to install a new continuous still and begin producing grain whisky in addition to malt whisky.
Satsuma Shuzo has been producing “Kannoko,” a barley shochu aged in white oak barrels, since 1988. As the only shochu manufacturer in Japan, it possesses its own “Cooperage” and “Cask storage facility,” where dedicated “coopers” manage and refurbish the barrels.
Incidentally, there are only about 60 coopers in all of Japan.
Consequently, Satsuma Shuzo is one of the most highly anticipated distilleries, capable of producing an “all-Japanese whisky” by handling everything in-house—from grain, and cooperage—all in-house, making it one of the most highly anticipated distilleries capable of producing an all-Japanese whisky. Furthermore, since Satsuma Shuzo is part of the Hombo Group, it receives technical support from three other distilleries—Hombo Shuzo’s Mars Shinshu and Tsunuki Distilleries, as well as the Yamaga Distillery in Kumamoto—which further heightens expectations.
According to an official statement: “We plan to open a facility equipped with a shop and a bar, creating an open distillery that welcomes tours from the general public. ‘HinoKami Distillery’ aims to become a new Japanese whisky loved worldwide by achieving world-class quality and providing a facility where visitors can fully experience the charm of whisky.”
The distillery will feature two Japanese-made lantern-style stills, with a planned production capacity of 175,000 liters and a malted barley batch size of 1.1 tons.
We plan to release the single malt “Hinokami” within 2026.
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For more information on the “Hinokami,” click here ↓
7. Summary
This time, it’s a new release from Sherry Batting.
Although the peated level is listed as 2 PPM, the peat comes through even more strongly. Given its location less than 1 km from the sea, the salty notes are distinctly present, and with the relatively high average temperature, the maturation seems to be progressing at a faster pace.
The addition of sherry-derived sweetness has increased its complexity compared to the previous release, though it still feels somewhat stiff. Will it mellow further with aging?
Of course, the single malt scheduled for 2026 is something to look forward to, but I’m also curious about the grain whiskys produced by this company.
