Nozawa Onsen Distillery completes its first single malt

Among Japan’s craft distilleries, Nozawa Onsen Distillery in Nagano Prefecture has attracted attention in international competitions, and it has now completed its first single malt whisky. A single malt is a whisky made at a single distillery from nothing but malted barley. According to the company’s announcement, the general release in Japan is scheduled for November 2026. A young distillery that earned international recognition for its gin has thus achieved its first result in whisky, a craft that takes time.

A distillery born from a cannery

Nozawa Onsen is a hot-spring village in the mountains of northern Nagano Prefecture, known for its heavy winter snowfall. The distillery opened in the centre of the village in December 2022. The building is a conversion of Nozawa Kanzume Kogyo, a cannery once well loved by locals, and it also houses a tasting bar and a gift shop. The distillery is led by Richards Philip. As an example of a maker from overseas putting down roots in a small Japanese village to set up a distillery, it is likely to draw interest from whisky fans abroad too. Ahead of the official release, the company also plans a launch event to hand the first bottles to the villagers, a sign of how much it values its ties with the local community.

From gin’s reputation to whisky

It was craft gin that made the distillery’s name. According to the announcement, its gins have so far won more than 20 awards at international spirits competitions. At the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), all four of its gins entered won gold medals. The gins use snowmelt water and locally grown botanicals (plants used for flavouring).

This whisky, too, draws on the distilling skills honed through gin-making and on knowledge of the local water and plants. The spirit was matured in the cool climate of Nozawa Onsen. The age, cask type and detailed flavour profile have not yet been disclosed.

How to enjoy it in Europe

The company has said it intends to reach the villagers first and then expand across Japan and overseas. As no date has yet been set for shipments to Europe, its gins are for now the best introduction. Tasting the gin first gives you the pleasure, when the same distillery’s whisky arrives, of comparing how the character of the water and plants shows through. After release, keep an eye on whether the age and cask details are published. We recommend starting with a little water added in small amounts, noting how the aroma changes.