The third installment of the Zodiac Series from the Niigata Kameda Distillery is now on sale. This time, the label is inspired by the constellation Gemini.
1. Photos of the bottle and label
Ohtani Whisky Zodiac Sign Series “Gemini”
Ohtani Whisky Zodiac Sign Series “Gemini”
2. Ohtani Whisky Zodiac Sign Series “Gemini”
OHTANI WHISKY Niigata Kameda Zodiac Sign Series “Gemini” is a single malt whisky made from 100% malt whisky distilled at the Niigata Kameda Distillery.If you were to compare this whisky to a person, what kind of person would it be? This time, it’s a woman born under the sign of “Gemini.” Depicted on the label is a woman born under the sign of Gemini. One has pale golden hair reminiscent of light. The other has brown hair like trees standing quietly. The two seem similar yet are different. Yet, while contrasting, they reflect and illuminate each other like a pair of mirrors. Glamour and tranquility. Innocence and precision. Freedom and reality. West and East. We’ve layered the two distinct personalities of Gemini into a single whisky. The first impression it makes and the character that emerges as time passes are slightly different. With every sip, the impression shifts ever so slightly. It’s as if the two women are quietly speaking to you.
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Caramelized nuts, dried black figs, Japanese citrus notes, wooden toys |
| Taste | Pecan nuts, dried raisins, bonito broth, maple syrup |
| Finish | A sweetness and acidity with a dried, nutty and dried-fruit-like nuance lingers |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 50% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese whisky |
| Cask Types | Bottled separately into Bourbon casks and Oloró Sherry casks. Only the Oloró Sherry cask-aged spirit was transferred to Mizunara casks in May 2025 for an 11-month finishing period. It was then blended with the Bourbon cask-aged spirit. |
| Content Capacity | 700 ml |
| Number of Bottles Sold | Unknown |
| Suggested Retail Price | 10,978 yen |
| Release Date | June 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 | Ohtani Whisky Zodiac Sign Series “Gemini” |
| Volume | 700 ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 10,978 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari are listed at around 12,000 yen. (*As of June 30, 2026)
4-3. Winning Bid Prices on Yahoo! Auctions
There are currently no listings on Yahoo! Auctions. (As of June 30, 2026)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, and Amazon
On online shopping sites such as Amazon, we confirmed that the product is being sold at the list price . (As of June 30, 2026)
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site, we offer even small portions, such as45 ml for 2,970 yen, 30 ml for 1,980 yen, and 15 ml for 990 yen.
5. Manufacturer
Niigata Small-Scale Distillery Co., Ltd. is a limited liability company established by Ohtani Co., Ltd., a major name seal manufacturer.
| Address | 1-3-5 Kameda Kogyodanchi,Konan-ku,Niigata-City 950-0141 |
| Access | 30-minute walk from JR Kameda Station |
| Start of Operations | March 2019; distillation began in February 2021 |
| Official Website | Niigata Kameda Distillery |
6. Distillery
Niigata Kameda Distillery
*Source: Facebook
*Source: Facebook
This project realized a business proposal for craft whisky production presented by a team of three companies—including Ohtani Co., Ltd.—as part of the “Niigata Innovation Program” organized in 2018 by Nomura Securities’ Niigata Branch and others. The business was launched in March 2019, and the distillery was constructed on the grounds of Ohtani Co., Ltd.’s headquarters factory.
The Niigata Kameda Distillery is the first companyin Niigata Prefecture to produce authentic Japanese whisky , handling the entire process from malting the barley to distillation .
The stills are manufactured by Forsyth in Scotland. Initially, two types of fermentation tanks—stainless steel and wooden barrels—were used to ferment the wort, but it appears they have since been replaced with wooden ones. Distillation began in March 2021. Annual production capacity is 30,000 liters.
Although the distillery previously used malt imported from Scotland, it is now using barley grown within the prefecture for its batches. In addition to pot stills, the distillery also has column stills and is considering producing rice whisky using locally grown rice as well as rum.
Aging takes place in dedicated containers—does this perhaps have a warming effect? Although it is a new make, the flavor is exceptionally rich. The distillery is attracting attention, having won the World’s Best Award in the New Make category at the 2023 WWA (World Whisky Awards) New Make & Young Spirits competition.
| Address | 1-3-5 Kameda Kogyodanchi,Konan-ku,Niigata-City 950-0141 |
| Start of Operations | March 2019 |
For more information on the Niigata Kameda Distillery, please see this article.
7. Summary
The third release in the Zodiac Sign Series from the Kameda Distillery in Niigata.
This whisky was crafted around the theme of the “duality” associated with Gemini.
When you taste it, you can indeed sense aromas and sweetness that seem to blend Japanese and Western nuances.
The label design features two women with golden and brown hair, expressing contrasting elements such as light and shadow, the West and the East, and glamour and tranquility.
This bottle truly captures the unique worldview of the Zodiac Series.
Click here for other products from Kameda Distillery↓
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.
