Takamine 17 years Single Grain Japanese Whisky

This whisky is crafted exclusively from polished barley, fermented with white koji and Fukuoka yeast. The liquid undergoes double distillation in pot stills, with proofing between runs to naturally reach a still strength of approximately 45%. It is then transferred to casks at this strength and aged in the Shinozaki Distillery’s unique aging facility, a repurposed municipal rice bunker with thick concrete walls and ceilings. This cave-like environment fosters an exceptional maturation process, particularly in Fukuoka’s warm climate, resulting in whiskies with remarkable elegance and depth.

This exceptional release comes from a small selection of heavily aged barrels, part of the distillery’s initial trials with this innovative production method. Although the whiskies are not malted, they showcase profound complexity and stand among the finest and oldest grain whiskies currently produced in Japan. The chosen casks—7525, 7594, and 7595—were distilled on November 15, 2006, and March 28, 2007. These 450L American White Oak barrels from Ariake Cooperage were medium-charred and previously seasoned with barley shochu for years before being filled with whisky.

Every step of production—fermentation, distillation, aging, and bottling—takes place in Fukuoka, Japan. These whiskies represent the oldest and most prestigious release from Shinozaki Distillery to date, a milestone unlikely to be surpassed for many years. Bottled without chill filtration, coloring, or additives, this rare offering is presented at its natural cask strength of 42.5% ABV.