Ohishi Distillery
About the distillery
Ohishi Distillery is located by the Kuma River in Kumamoto and is known for rice whisky with a pronounced cask character. The distillery works with its own fields, local rice and clear underground water, resulting in an expression that blends Japanese terroir with long maturation in sherry, brandy and specialty casks.
Raw materials and production
The production is built around rice as the main raw material, which sets Ohishi apart from many other whisky distilleries. The distillery uses gohyakumanishi rice from its own fields and mochi rice from Kumamoto Prefecture, and part of the cultivation is carried out organically. The water comes from the clear underground near the source of the Kuma River and is a clear part of the distillery’s identity. The text emphasizes the origin of the raw materials and the connection between land, water and craftsmanship. The fermentation and distillation process itself is not described in detail, but the result is a whisky in which the clean distillate character is given room to come through. Rice cultivation, the use of local water and the open approach to new methods are the most distinctive production traits.
Maturation and cask types
Maturation is central at Ohishi. Around 1,200 sherry and brandy casks are used to mature the whisky over a long time, and the distillery has long-standing relationships with coopers who source the best casks. The brandy casks contribute French oak and a residue of brandy in the staves, while the sherry casks provide a deeper and more spiced structure. In addition, ex-Islay bourbon barrels are used as a finish for more than a year, and Sakura casks from Kumamoto are used for a final maturation of at least a full year. The combination of classic wine casks and local specialty casks creates an expression in which fruit, oak and spice develop in different layers depending on the bottling.
Whiskies
The range includes core bottlings matured in brandy and sherry casks, as well as a number of distinctive finish bottlings. Ohishi Brandy 10 yo highlights the light, floral and fruit-driven side, while Ohishi Sherry 8 yo goes in a darker direction with dried fruit and spice. Brandy NAS and Sherry NAS provide more direct access to the house style. Port Cask Finish adds vinous depth, chocolate and stewed fruit; Islay Cask Finish builds on the sherry and brandy components with a longer finish; Sakura Cask Finish anchors the expression locally with wood from Kumamoto; and Tokubetsu Reserve brings together 27-, 10- and 7-year-old sherry components into a complex blend. The common denominator is rice whisky with clear cask treatment and an elegant, fruit-forward expression.
| Whisky | Type / series | Age | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohishi Brandy 10 yo | Single Grain Whisky | 10 yo | Brandy casks | Maturation in brandy casks allows the clean distillate character to come through along with fruit and floral notes.; Nose: Floral aroma with hi-tone fruit such as pears and green apples.; Palate: Clean and sophisticated with a clearly rice-driven character and fruitiness. | Current; Core range; Export markets only |
| Ohishi Sherry 8 yo | Single Grain Whisky | 8 yo | Sherry casks | Sherry cask maturation brings dark dried fruits and a spiced, more deeply styled profile.; Nose: Dark dried fruits.; Palate: Cinnamon and tobacco with a clearly spiced profile. | Current; Core range; Export markets only |
| Ohishi Brandy NAS | Single Grain Whisky | Ex-Brandy casks | Matured exclusively in used brandy casks.; Nose: Apples, pears and floral notes.; Palate: Silky-soft texture with honey and fruitiness. | Current; Core range; Export markets only | |
| Ohishi Sherry NAS | Single Grain Whisky | Rich Sherry casks | Matured exclusively in rich sherry casks.; Nose: Deep sherry influence.; Palate: Rich plums, raisins, allspice, oak and umami. | Current; Core range; Export markets only | |
| Ohishi Port Cask Finish | Single Grain Whisky | Port cask finish; finish: Port finish | Port finish with chocolate, stewed fruit, spices and a touch of red wine.; Nose: Chocolate, stewed fruit, whole spices and a touch of red wine.; Palate: Well-balanced and fruity with vinous depth.; Finish: Fresh and simple. | Current; Export markets only | |
| Ohishi Islay Cask Finish | Single Grain Whisky | Ex-Islay (bourbon) barrels; finish: More than 1 year finish | Five Ohishi Sherry casks and five Ohishi Brandy casks are finished in ex-Islay bourbon barrels for more than a year. | Current; Export markets only | |
| Ohishi Sakura Cask Finish | Single Grain Whisky | Sakura casks; finish: At least one full year | Matured in brandy and sherry casks and then finished in locally cultivated Sakura casks for at least one full year.; Palate: Soft oak spice influence. | Current; Export markets only | |
| Ohishi Tokubetsu Reserve | Single Grain Whisky | Sherry casks | Special edition made up of almost equal parts 27-, 10- and 7-year-old Ohishi Sherry Cask whisky.; Nose: Dark oak and signs of old age.; Palate: Youthfulness, zest, harmony and complexity. | Current; Export markets only |
Whisky style and tasting profile
The lighter expressions show pears, green apples and floral notes, especially in brandy-style whiskies. The sherry expressions move toward dark dried fruits, plums, raisins, cinnamon, tobacco, allspice and a pronounced oak character. The port expression adds chocolate, stewed fruit, whole spices and a touch of red wine, while the Sakura finish provides a soft oak-spice character and deep color. Taken together, they point to a style that shifts between fresh fruitiness, florals and deeper spice.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
Ohishi holds on to tradition, but is also open to new approaches. The raw materials are clearly rooted in place through its own fields, local rice and local water, and local Sakura casks are also part of the work. The philosophy is closely tied to craftsmanship, origin and a willingness to let the raw materials shape the whisky.
Awards and recognition
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Best of Class (2020, Winner, Ohishi Brandy 10 yo)
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Gold (2020, Gold, Ohishi Sherry NAS)
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Double Gold (2025, Double Gold, 97 points, Ohishi Port Cask Finish)