MAOI Distillery (Maoi)

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History

• Origin as a winery became MAOI Distillery Corporation in 2021, when MAOI Distillery was established as part of the MAOI company, and the company changed its name and brand from MAOI自由の丘ワイナリー (Maoi Jiyuu no Oka Winery) to MAOI Co., Ltd. in the winter of 2021.

• In 2022 the distillery shifted from pure wine production to a wine and spirits factory, and hybrid distillation equipment from the Scottish Forsyth/フォーサイス Co. was introduced for the production of brandy, fruit brandy and whisky. According to the site, they also planned to build a new distillery building in spring 2022.

• The distillery sits in the hills of Naganuma City near Chitose Airport and has a 12-hectare vineyard overlooking Sapporo; since 2006 the company has evolved from wine production to offering wine, brandy and later whiskies and other distilled products.

Production

• Location and facilities: MAOI Distillery sits in the hills of Naganuma near Chitose Airport; there is a 12-hectare vineyard overlooking Sapporo, and the distillery is designed for the production of brandy and whisky.

• Production methods and equipment: Introduction of hybrid distillation apparatus from Forsyth/フォーサイス Co. (Scottish supplier) for the production of brandy, fruit brandy and whisky.

• Wine and special techniques: Since 2022 products and techniques from a combination of wine and spirits production have been used; the information also mentions the orange wine method in connection with wine production (under MAOI Wine Books and winemaking information), but this is primarily for wine, not whisky.

• Annual production figures: Not disclosed in the available texts.

• Special details for whisky (source related to whisky projects): For the One Sip Cask Owner program, 100% non-peated malt from Hokkaido (Notspeid? centre) in the Nakag-tsushi area is used throughout the program and is the basis for the five different cask types.

Whisky Products

• Metamorphosis The Origin II – Single Malt New Make Spirit (ニューポット)

• Type: Single Malt (new make/spirit, unaged)

• Vintage/variation: Metamorphosis The Origin II

• Product type: Whisky-related newly distilled spirit

• Alcohol: 55%

• Size: 200 ml

• Notes and price information: Gold medal at TWSC 2025; description indicates an intensely malted aroma and fruity finish (see Tasting Notes)

• 一口カスクオーナー (One Sip Cask Owner)

• Concept: A cask-owner program where you buy a stake in a whisky maturing in MAOI distillery aging warehouses for 5 years, after which the bottle is bottled and delivered to the owner.

• Malt and cask types: All malt materials come from Hokkaido, Nakag-tsushi area; 5 types of casks are selected:

  • Mizunara (新樽)

  • French Oak (新樽)

  • Bordeaux red wine cask

  • Sherry cask

  • Bourbon cask

• Malt material: 100% Northeast Hokkaido malt (non-peated)

• Alcohol content: 63%

• Aging: 5 years in the distillery's aging rooms before bottling

• Volume per bottle: 500 ml per bottle, bottled at cask strength

• Delivery: Two bottles per share

• Equipment: Bottling and storage take place in the distillery's storage rooms

• Price: Not stated in the text

• Delivery: Expected around 2030 (depending on aging and planned bottlings)

Tasting Notes

• Metamorphosis The Origin II

• Characteristics: "Concentrated malt aroma and fruity flavor" suggests a pronounced malt note with a fruity finish.

• Description: As a new-make spirit (ニューポット), it provides a strong, clean malt profile without full maturation, ideal for appreciating the character of raw malt.

• Brief note on a portion whisky (One Sip Owner): Because this is a cask-owner program and not a finished bottled product in its basic form, notes are described as variant-dependent, and the malt is 100% non-peated from Hokkaido; details of particular aroma and flavor notes are not provided in the text.

Events and News

• TWSC 2025 (Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2025)

• MAOI Distillery's products won two gold prizes:

  • Metamorphosis The Origin II (Single Malt New Make Spirit, Category: New Make Spirits) – alcohol 55%, 200 ml, price 4,950 yen (incl. tax)

  • MYAOI Gin Hatsukoi (Japanese gin) – alcohol 46%, 500 ml, price 4,950 yen (incl. tax)

• One Sip Cask Owner launch

• Sales began March 22, 2025 at 09:00

• 5 types of casks available: Mizunara, French Oak, Bordeaux Red Wine, Sherry, Bourbon

• One share provides two 500 ml cask-strength bottles and access to owner events

• Aging: 5 years in MAOI’s aging warehouses

• Expected delivery around 2030

• SPECIAL TOURS and FEST

• 3-day special tours for whisky fans included in the 2025 year

• Participation in Hokkaido Whisky & Spirits Fest 2025 in Sapporo (July 25–28) with guided facility tours, shopping, and tastings; option for hand-fill (200 ml, 8,800 yen) and MY gin variants (200 ml, 2,530 yen)

• Bus service from JR Minami-Chitose included as an option

• MDC and Membership

• MAOI Distillery Club (MDC) – VIP membership started in 2021; 500 members; benefits include membership cards, stamps and labels, two annual alcohol shipments, exclusivity in sales and events

• Latest recruitment in 2025 (70 slots, deadline March 31, 2025)

• Other News

• Launch of various products (regular wines and gin) as part of MAOI Distillery/Winery; regular updates and information in the information sections

Company Philosophy and Values

• Management philosophy: to be a corporate group that creates value by thinking outside the box and not being constrained by stereotypes.

• Focus: quality, craftsmanship, and innovation through the integration of wine, brandy, and whisky production; aiming to present the Hokkaido brand to the world 100 years from now.

• Engagement: developing the brand and products through partnerships, memberships, and public events, as well as launching new ways to experience whisky (for example, One Sip Cask Owner, special tours, and festival participation).