SETOUCHI DISTILLERY
About the distillery
SETOUCHI DISTILLERY is located in Kure in Hiroshima and builds its whisky story on the gentle climate of the Setouchi region, pure water, and local ingredients. The distillery is run by Miyake Honten and works with whisky, gin, and other spirits. In particular, the whisky series clearly shows how the place uses outdoor aging, spring water from Mt. Haigamine, and different cask types to give the spirit a character rooted in the area.
History
Miyake Honten was founded in 1856 in Kure, Hiroshima, and for more than 100 years has worked with Japanese sake and other spirits. In 2020, the company embarked on gin development in Setouchi with a clear desire to share the taste of the region with the world. Later, the distillery’s whisky production followed, and in 2022 New Pot Setouchi was released as the young whisky spirit that marked a new phase. In 2026, the lineup was expanded further when the distillery published a new Bourbon Cask release in a limited run of 290 sets. This development shows a distillery working at the intersection between the long brewing tradition and a new, locally rooted whisky identity.
Ingredients and production
Whisky production is based on malt and, in some products, also grain, while the documented whisky releases use malt from Australia or the UK. The distillery highlights the water from Mt. Haigamine in Kure, which is pumped up from its own well at a depth of 60 meters and used as a central part of the spirit. In the Japanese single malt, unpeated malt is used, along with multiple yeast types and a fermentation time that is 1.5 times longer than usual. This clearly reflects a craft approach where time, yeast, and ingredient selection are deliberately managed to control aroma and richness. The production also combines distillation equipment that has been carefully selected with experience from the company’s sake background, and that transfer of techniques is an important part of the distillery’s identity. New Pot is bottled immediately after distillation, while the matured whiskies are allowed to develop in Setouchi’s climate at outdoor temperatures.
Maturation and cask types
Maturation is one of the distillery’s clearest distinguishing features. Single Malt Japanese Whisky Setouchi Oloroso Sherry Cask is matured for more than three years in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled directly from the cask without chill filtration or any color adjustment. Another expression is aged in 100-liter bourbon casks for 3 years and 4 months and is released as a set of two single casks, Cask No.68 and Cask No.69. In the limited New Born series, the whisky is aged at outdoor temperature for more than one or two years, allowing Setouchi’s natural temperature progression to work with the cask. The distillery also uses sherry casks that previously held whisky for its whisky-matured umeshu, where the cask character contributes depth, nutty, and toasted notes.
Whiskies
The whisky range runs from young New Pot to matured single malt expressions and small, limited releases. The most established whisky is Single Malt Japanese Whisky Setouchi Oloroso Sherry Cask, which showcases the distillery’s mature style with sherry casks, longer fermentation, and single-cask bottling. Alongside this are the young New Born expressions of one and two years, highlighting how the cask develops under Setouchi’s temperatures, as well as the bourbon cask edition, where two different casks can be compared directly. The lineup is small, but clearly differentiated, and provides good insight into the distillery’s work with both youth, cask character, and distinct cask expressions.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Born Setouchi Aged 1 Year | Single Malt, Single Cask; Whisky Setouchi | 47 % | 1 year | A single malt, single cask whisky aged for more than one year at outdoor temperature to let Setouchi’s natural climate shape the cask development. The 700 ml bottle is bottled at 47%. | Current; Limited Amount | |
| New Born Setouchi Aged 2 Years | Single Malt, Single Cask; Whisky Setouchi | 47 % | 2 years | Oloroso sherry cask; finish: Non-chill filtered finish | A single malt, single cask whisky matured for over two years at outdoor temperature. The distillery highlights the use of spring water from Mt. Haigamine, selected malt, yeast, and longer fermentation, as well as a finish without chill filtration.; Aftertaste: Non-chill filtration is used to preserve a deeper taste. | Current; Limited Amount |
| Single Malt Japanese Whisky Setouchi Oloroso Sherry Cask | Single Malt Japanese Whisky | 47 % | Over 3 years | Oloroso sherry cask; finish: Bottled from the cask without chill filtration or added colouring | The distillery’s Japanese single malt is made with carefully selected unpeated malt and spring water from Mt. Haigamine. It ferments longer than normal with multiple yeast types and matures for more than three years in Oloroso sherry casks.; Nose: Full-bodied and aromatic profile; Taste: Deep flavor and rich aroma reflecting the natural character of Setouchi; Aftertaste: Bottled straight from the cask without chill filtration or added coloring. | Current; Core range |
| Single Malt Japanese Whisky Setouchi Bourbon Cask 200ml x 2 | Single Malt Japanese Whisky | 47 % | 3 years 4 months | Bourbon cask | A limited set of two 200 ml bottles where Cask No.68 and Cask No.69 can be compared. The whisky is matured in 100L bourbon casks for 3 years and 4 months.; Taste: The bourbon cask-derived aroma and depth are highlighted in the tasting description. | Limited; 290 sets; 290 bottles |
| Setouchi New Pot | New Make Spirit; Whisky | 60 % | The whisky’s raw distillate is bottled immediately after distillation and sold as New Pot Setouchi. It is produced in the lush Setouchi region and appears with a clear color and distinctly young character.; Taste: Rough distinctive flavors | Current |
Whisky style and flavor profile
The style is positioned between citrus-driven freshness, malty richness, and a clear depth from the cask. In the matured single malt, the expression is described as full-bodied, aromatic, deep, and with a rich aroma. The young whiskies show a more raw and direct side, with clear color and a distinct, unrefined character. The bourbon cask edition points toward a deeper cask profile, while the distillery’s other spirits emphasize a fruity direction with lemon, green tea, and a citrus-like freshness. Taken together, it paints a picture of a house where fresh fruit, malt, and cask character play together.
Visiting the distillery
The distillery provides a contact line for interviews and product inquiries, and the electronic contact form is open 24 hours a day. For phone contact, the opening hours are 9:00–17:00 Japanese time, with a break between 12:00 and 13:00, and closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. The text does not say anything about public tours or tastings, so visitors primarily get a direct way to ask about products and press inquiries.
The listed opening hours are: Phone contact: 9:00–17:00 JST, except 12:00–13:00, as well as on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Internet inquiries are received around the clock.
Philosophy and craft
The distillery’s clear philosophy is to combine tradition with new challenges. It will show what grows and lives in Setouchi through spirits made with local ingredients, good water, and concrete craft choices such as longer fermentation, single cask bottling, and unfiltered bottling. At the same time, the company seeks to create products that both beginners and experienced whisky drinkers can find their way into, without compromising the local taste and the craft-based starting point.
Awards and recognition
- Bronze Medal (2026, Bronze, Single Malt Japanese Whisky Setouchi Oloroso Sherry Cask)
Latest news
International Whisky Competition 2026: Two awards – 2026-07-14
The distillery announced that it had received two prizes at International Whisky Competition 2026.
Bourbon Cask twin single-cask release – 2026-07-08
A new release featuring two different single casks, Single Malt Japanese Whisky Setouchi Bourbon Cask 2-bottle set, was put on sale in a run of 290 sets.
TWSC 2026 honours for Amanatsu and Lemon – 2026-05-29
Craft Gin Setouchi Amanatsu was honored with Best of the Best and Best Category Award, while Lemon received its third special award.
Craft Gin Setouchi Hassaku announced – 2026-05-26
The distillery announced a new hassaku gin as a limited release from 1 June.