Shinobu Distillery of Niigata Beer Co
About the distillery
Shinobu Distillery of Niigata Beer Co. is located in Niigata in Japan and is closely linked to the region’s pure water, rice, and sake. The distillery was created by Usami Ken, who came from the brewing world and later obtained Niigata’s first whisky license. The style centers on Japanese Mizunara oak and whiskies that are selected from other distilleries and finished in Japan.
History
The story begins with Usami Ken, the founder of Niigata Beer Co., who had already made a name for himself as an innovative brewer in Niigata. In 2017, he received Niigata’s first whisky license and thus took the next step from beer to whisky. The vision was to create a local distillery that could showcase the quality of the region’s pure water and appeal to spirits enthusiasts with a clear Japanese identity. This led to the Shinobu project, where the first batch was created as an expression of the desire to combine Japanese flavor with whisky from the rest of the world. The name Shinobu means forbearance and refers to patience, perseverance, and the samurai spirit that the producers themselves highlight as part of the project’s soul.
Ingredients and production
Shinobu works with whiskies that are selected from different distilleries, after which they are matured in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks and then given a final rest in Japanese Mizunara oak. It is a clearly blended style, where the main approach is not a classic, locally documented mashing or fermentation, but a targeted combination of whisky and subsequent finishing in Japan. The Japanese oak finish is the crucial craft choice in the series. Mizunara is described as rare and expensive, and it is associated with complex aromas and a special mouthfeel. At the same time, Niigata’s nature plays a role in the story—especially the pure water and the region’s three white treasures: snow, rice, and sake. On the documented product side, it is also emphasized that the whisky is free from colouring and non-chill filtered.
Maturation and cask types
The maturation is based on a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks before finishing in Mizunara oak. It is precisely the Japanese oak that sets the signature, and in the products it is used to add wood, spice, and a more complex, warm character. In the highball version, the same Mizunara-finished whisky is used together with soda, showing that the house’s cask profile also tolerates a lighter, fresher way of serving.
Whiskies
The documented range consists of a Pure Malt with no age statement, a 10 Years Old Pure Malt, a 15 Years Old Pure Malt, and a SHINOBU Whisky Highball. The common denominator is the Mizunara finish, but the individual expressions range from the more fresh and vanilla-driven to the deeper, more wood-forward and spiced. The classic pure malt serves as the house’s broad introduction, while the 10- and 15-year versions provide more age and greater depth. The highball shows how Shinobu also works with a ready-mixed serving around the same flavor universe.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and style | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHINOBU Pure Malt Whisky Mizunara Oak Finish | Pure Malt Whisky | 43 % | Japanese Oak Mizunara Wood Finish; finish: Mizunara oak finish | All natural without colouring. Non-chill filtered.; Nose: Vanilla, plums, minty.; Taste: Slightly sweet, spices, vanilla, citrus, smoky oak.; Finish: Medium, sweet, woody, minty, slight bitterness. | Current; Core range | |
| SHINOBU 10 Years Old Pure Malt Whisky Mizunara Oak Finish | Pure Malt Whisky | 43 % | 10 Years Old | Japanese Oak Mizunara Wood Finish; finish: Mizunara oak finish | Non colored and addictive free.; Nose: Fresh wood barrel, vanilla og flowers that bring to breath of nectar.; Taste: Maltose, citrus, Mizunara oak and coffee beans.; Finish: Medium, woody, back to sweet aftertaste of maltose. | Current |
| SHINOBU 15 Years Old Pure Malt Whisky Mizunara Oak Finish | Pure Malt Whisky | 43 % | 15 Years Old | Japanese Oak Mizunara Wood Finish; finish: Mizunara oak finish | Non colored and addictive free.; Nose: Deep wood aroma, maltose, nectar, blueberry.; Taste: Oly, ripe frunt, Mizunara wood, milk coffee, lemon peel, leather, cinnamon, ginger.; Finish: Long, strong oakiness, deep floral woody scent, furriness. | Current |
| SHINOBU Whisky Highball | RTD whisky highball | 8 % | Combines SHINOBU Mizunara Oak finished whisky and crisp soda.; Nose: Elegant sandalwood and incense aromas with vanilla and citrus zest.; Taste: Crisp and vibrantly bubbly, with mellow malt sweetness and Mizunara oak spiciness.; Finish: Dry and sophisticated, with a lingering woody scent and floral honey. | Current |
The style and flavor profile of the whiskies
The overarching style is characterized by vanilla, maltose, and a distinct wood profile from Mizunara oak. In the documented whiskies, you also find citrus, plums, and ripe fruit, which contribute fruitiness, while another layer comes from spices such as cinnamon, ginger, pepper, and spice. In addition, there is a more floral and aromatic trail with flowers, floral woody scent, sandalwood, and incense, which makes the profile recognizably Japanese in its expression.
Visit the distillery
Public access, tours, and tastings are not described in the available material.
The distillery does not receive visitors.
Philosophy and craft
Shinobus name stands for forbearance, and it is closely tied to a philosophy of patience, perseverance, and the samurai spirit. The project is built on local strengths in Niigata, especially pure water and the region’s three white treasures: snow, rice, and sake. At the same time, there is a clear decision to combine Japanese flavors with whiskies from other distilleries and give them a final Mizunara finish in Japan.