【One of Niigata's Three White Treasures - Pure Water Source 】
【Founder Ken Usami's Professional Background 】
【Numerous Awards 】
【Unique Blending Techniques 】
【IWSC 2021 Silver 】
The SHINOBU Distillery is located in the Japanese seaside region of Niigata on the country’s western coast. The area is famous for its “Three White Treasures”: snow, rice and sake which have been cultivated for centuries. SHINOBU Pure Malt whiskies are crafted by master blender, Mr. Usami Ken who blended and aged the SHINOBU Pure Malt Whisky 10YO Lightly Peated in sherry and bourbon hogshead casks for more than 10 years, before finishing them in precious Japanese Mizunara Oak. Famous for imparting rich, luscious flavors of apples, pears, cloves and nutmegs, Mizunara Oak has been used in Japan since the 1930s and is now sought-after by whisky makers around the world. The peated flavors brings the SHINOBU 10YO Pure Malt Lightly Peated Whisky into another aspect, with complex aromas and different layers of tastes of seaweed and smoky flavors. All SHINOBU whiskies are created without chill-filtration nor added color to protect and enhance their complex and robust character.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Delicious honey aroma, with hints of chocolate, dry grass and bonfire from lightly peated malts.
Palate: Caramel, coffee, gentle smoky flavors followed by seaweed and vanilla scent.
Finish: Long and smooth with notes of salted caramel.

"SHINOBU" means “forbearance” in Japanese, symbolizing the spirit of a samurai, like making great spirits which takes time, patience and persistence.
Shinobu Distillery is located in beautiful Niigata prefecture of Japan, a place that is praised locally by its “three white treasures,” namely SNOW, RICE AND SAKE.
In the distillery lives a passionate whisky lover and an experienced brewer, Mr. Ken Usami, who also founded the craft beer brewery called Niigata Beer 20 years ago in the same town. As an innovator by heart, Mr. Usami was the first brewer to apply SECONDARY BOTTLE FERMENTATION AND AGING in Niigata beer.
Mr. Usami dreams of creating a local whisky distillery that will be able to showcase the quality of local pure water and serves the passionate community of spirit lovers. Finally in 2017, Mr. Usami obtained the first whisky license for Niigata (another FIRST!) and thus started his journey of becoming a distiller. While the distillery is still under construction, Mr. Usami wants to experiment with blending WORLD WHISKIES to create the unique flavours of Japan. Thus the first expressions of Mizunara oak finish are born.