Suntory is set to launch a new line of liqueurs on June 4, 2019 under a brand named “Japanese Craft Liqueur Kanade.” While we don’t have any images of the bottles just yet, we do have some details on what flavors the first three releases […]

Kagoshima-based Komasa Jyozo has officially released the next expression of their gin from the Hioki Distillery. Dubbed Komasa Gin Hojicha, this one drops the citrus of the original, and instead focuses on hojicha as the main botanical. For those not familiar, hojicha is essentially roasted […]

Three new single malt whiskies out of Mars Whisky’s Shinshu Distillery! All available now. From left to right we have: Mars Malt Le Papillon C. thyodamas is the latest entry in the butterfly series of single cask, single malt whiskies. This release comes out of […]

It must be highball week or something, since another of Japan’s smaller whisky distilleries has announced the release of a RTD highball. This time it’s out of Toyoma’s Wakatsuru Saburomaru Distillery, and named the “Harry Cranes Craft Highball.” Harry Cranes… I think of this guy: […]

Kale! Here in Japan, it’s been used as a primary ingredient in the popular aojiru health drink since around 1983. The rest of the world seems to have taken a couple decades to catch on, but you can now find kale all over the place […]

Over a year ago I listed Kiuchi Shuzo’s Nukada Distillery as one to watch in 2018-2019. And watch it I have! That’s why I’m excited to bring news that the company is launching their first whisky product to the public on April 1, 2019. Yes, […]

The next budget-conscious blended release out of Nikka is going to be called “Black Nikka Deep Blend Night Cruise.” Nikka has been going bananas with these “limited editions” of Nikka Black over the past couple years — Deep Blend Extra Sweet, Extra Sherry, and before […]

Okinawa’s Helios Distillery has been selling rum under the “Teeda” brand for several years. They’ve just launched a new limited-edition age statement expression that’s aged five+ years in American white oak casks. The Helios Distillery has been getting quite a bit of attention of late […]

Roppongi’s Grand Hyatt Tokyo is getting in on the Venture Whisky action with an exclusive bottling dubbed Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Maduro. Maduro is the lounge of the same name at the hotel, and the only place this bottling will be sold beginning March 1. […]

One of the first major announcements last year was the The Essence of Suntory Whisky series. At the time I mentioned that those were the first three releases, with more to come. Suntory has honored their promise and is today officially releasing the next lineup! […]