SHINDO DISTILLERY
About the distillery
SHINDO DISTILLERY is located in Asakura in Fukuoka, near Kyushu’s largest river, the Chikugo. It’s a distillery that puts innovation and Japanese whisky at the center, but does so with a clear local grounding. The goal here isn’t just to make whisky, but to shape expressions that can change expectations for Japanese whisky while still feeling relevant in everyday life.
History
SHINDO LAB’s whisky story begins with a longer process that reaches back to work on its distinctive barrel-aged barley spirit, which in 2021 was followed by the launch of TAKAMINE KOJI FERMENTED WHISKEY in the USA. That same year, the distillery also took a new step and began producing malt whisky in a new setup without koji. That was the start of SHINDO DISTILLERY as a modern whisky distillery. In 2025, the first single malt, SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL 01, was released—developed as a deliberate first statement of style and level. Later that same year, EXPERIMENTAL FOR CORES.01 and .02 were launched to go deeper into the distillery’s own expression, and in 2026 both EXPERIMENTAL 02 and the first blended whisky, SHINDO The Blended 2026 – Non Peated, followed. The story is therefore short, but highly targeted: each step marks a new attempt to build an original whisky style from the ground up.
Raw materials and production
Production is built around a combination of modern technique and hands-on craft control. The distillery works with an additional, proprietary yeast strain during fermentation, which sets it apart from a more conventional single-fermentation process and helps give the spirit a distinctly layered character. In production, the finished new make is described as heavily sweetish and lactone-driven, with milky, fatty and toffee-like notes as a foundation for the whisky. There is also a focus on scientifically controlled process parameters and specially manufactured machines, but the most important steps are still carried out manually by experienced staff. In grain production, both vacuum distillation in a pot still and a hybrid still with copper contact are used, so unwanted notes are kept down and the expression becomes clean and light. Overall, it’s a production that seeks precision without losing the craft.
Maturation and cask types
The distillery uses a broad palette of casks and actively explores how they can be combined. Bourbon casks appear as a central base, while Mizunara adds oriental sweetness and spice, and Oloroso as well as Cognac are used to add fullness, depth, and a rounded finish. In CORES.01, chestnut wood played the lead role, balanced with bourbon and a small share of Cognac to keep sweetness and bitterness in check. In CORES.02, peated bourbon, non-peated bourbon, new Mizunara, Cognac, and Oloroso were brought together into a more layered structure. The travel retail edition also shows how much the distillery works with cask composition as a guiding tool for both smoke, fruit, sweetness, and the finish.
Whiskies
The range spans from the original EXPERIMENTAL series to the more focused CORES series, the first blended whisky, and a travel retail edition with both peated and non-peated versions. EXPERIMENTAL 01 is a deliberate, straightforward first attempt, while EXPERIMENTAL 02 shows more mature casks and greater breadth. CORES.01 and CORES.02 move closer to the distillery’s identity and are aimed at more dedicated whisky lovers, while SHINDO The Blended 2026 is intended to be more everyday and easy to drink—especially in mizuwari and highball. The travel retail series is created for travelers and works with changing expressions depending on whether you choose the peated or the non-peated version.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Cask and style | Flavor profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL 01 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky | 50 % | Bourbon cask, Mizunara new cask, Oloroso sherry cask and Scotch refill cask | First release in the EXPERIMENTAL series, developed as the distillery’s first attempt to showcase its style through a deliberately simple blend of bourbon barrel, mizunara, oloroso and scotch refill.; Finish: The option to add water is part of the experience, and the bottling is set at 50% to leave room to explore taste changes. | Current; Core range; National launch 2025-06-14 |
| SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL 02 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky | Bourbon cask, Oloroso sherry cask and Brandy cask | The second release in the EXPERIMENTAL series, built on more mature non-peated spirit with greater breadth and depth than its predecessor.; Nose: Bright estery aromas, gently toasted dried-fruit nuances, milky and fatty sweetness with subtle toffee notes.; Palate: Bright esters, dried fruit and a richer layered sweetness from the matured spirit.; Finish: A clearer, richer and more defined finish with the signature sweet-lactonic Shindo character. | Current; Core range; Submitted for sale 2026-03-19 | |
| SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL FOR CORES.01 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky | Chestnut cask, Bourbon cask and Cognac cask | A more in-depth expression in the CORES series, where chestnut wood and bourbon are balanced with a small share of Cognac to create a more core-focused, targeted whisky expression.; Nose: Dense maple-like sweetness, spice and bittersweet chestnut character.; Palate: Sweet chestnut character with a controlled bittersweet edge and lactone-driven milky, fatty, toffee notes.; Finish: Longer and rounded with a touch of Cognac cask. | Current; National release 2025-12-19 | |
| SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL FOR CORES.02 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky | Peated bourbon cask, Non-peated bourbon cask, Mizunara new cask, Cognac cask and Oloroso sherry cask; peated/smoky/peaty | The first official peated release in the CORES series, where Shindo’s own distillate is combined with peated bourbon, bourbon, Mizunara, Cognac and Oloroso for a more layered profile.; Nose: Elegant smokiness, depth from peat, brightness from bourbon casks and a sweet-spicy mid-palate from Mizunara.; Palate: Layered and complex with peat, milky fatty sweetness, toffee, sweet-spicy Mizunara and Oloroso body.; Finish: Heavy sweetness and long aftertaste rounded by Cognac cask. | Current; National release 2025-12-19 | |
| SHINDO The Blended 2026 - Non Peated | Blended Japanese Whisky | Haruka Nijo barley, Bourbon cask, Wine cask and Mizunara cask | The distillery’s first blended Japanese whisky, developed to be more everyday and easy to drink—especially in mizuwari and highball.; Nose: Crystal-clear grain character with vanillic bourbon notes, fresh fruit from wine casks and oriental sweetness from Mizunara.; Palate: Light mouthfeel, gentle sweetness and a balanced blend where no element dominates.; Finish: Long and smooth with Shindo’s characteristic sweet finish. | Current; Core range; Marked as the first blended release in 2026 | |
| SHINDO TRAVEL RETAIL EXCLUSIVE | Japanese Whisky | Peated bourbon cask, Non-peated bourbon cask, Oloroso sherry cask, Mizunara cask, Chestnut cask, American White Oak new cask and Cognac cask | A travel edition sold in airports and select stores, with both peated and non-peated variations.; Nose: In the non-peated version: fresh, green notes reminiscent of pear and green apple; in the peated version: layered peat with rich body and fruit.; Palate: The non-peated expression is built for lightness and layered drinking; the peated version moves smoothly from rich opening to delicate finish.; Finish: Both versions carry Shindo’s milky, fatty sweetness and a long, lingering finish. | Current; Exclusive at select airport-related stockists, including Fukuoka Airport |
Whisky style and flavor profile
The consistent theme revolves around a milky, fatty and toffee-like sweetness that carries through several of the releases. In addition, there’s fresher fruitiness with esters, dried fruit, as well as pear and green apples in the travel-oriented non-peated edition. When the smoke comes through, it’s elegant and layered rather than dominant, and in the peated expressions it’s joined by a deep, robust warmth. Mizunara and chestnut also bring sweet-spiced character and a slight bitter edge, making the style more complex than just pure sweetness or smoke.
Visit the distillery
SHINDO LAB is open to visitors through a distillery tour of about two hours, including tastings. The tour costs 5,000 yen, and there are a maximum of ten participants per tour. Both Japanese guides and tours with English-speaking guides are offered, and guests who don’t drink receive a take-home set instead of the tasting. The route includes stairs, so the tour cannot be adapted for wheelchair users. In addition, there is a concept shop where you can discover, buy, and taste products, and booking is required for the tour.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
At the core is “THE QUEST FOR THE ORIGINAL”—the idea of combining respect for whisky tradition with a clear desire to create something new. The distillery describes itself as a humble challenger that doesn’t call its products finished, but keeps seeking the best current performance. The philosophy is therefore both technical and mental: originality, precision, open experimentation, and the willingness to use everything from modern equipment to manual work when needed.
Prices and recognitions
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World Whiskies Awards 2026 (2026, SILVER, SHINDO NEW MAKE 2)
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World Whiskies Awards 2026 (2026, SILVER, SHINDO NEW BORN 3)
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World Whiskies Awards 2026 (2026, SILVER, SHINDO SINGLE MALT 1)
Latest news
SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL FOR CORES.01 & 02 全国発売中 – 2025-12-19
SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL FOR CORES.01 and .02 were launched nationwide as a further development of the EXPERIMENTAL series, aimed at more dedicated whisky lovers.
SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL 02 on the market – 2026-03-19
The single malt edition SHINDO EXPERIMENTAL 02 was submitted for sale at retailers across the country and at the SHINDO LAB STAND.
First blended Japanese whisky launched – 2026-07-13
SHINDO The Blended 2026 – Non Peated was submitted as the distillery’s first blended Japanese whisky and set to go on sale.