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Shizuoka City's malt whisky distillery attracts attention from both inside and outside Japan!
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Japanese whiskey, born and nurtured by the natural blessings of Shizuoka, is attracting attention from both within Japan and overseas. In this article, we will introduce two whiskey distilleries in Shizuoka City.
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The "Shizuoka SAKE Trip" is a trip to visit the attractive sightseeing spots of Shizuoka while tasting three types of sake from Shizuoka. Shizuoka is an hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, an hour and 50 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka, and there is also a direct express bus from Haneda Airport, so it is a very accessible place. We will pick you up at Shizuoka Station in a chartered bus, so you can enjoy the tour easily and comfortably even if you have luggage.
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Table of Contents
- Characteristics of whiskey distilleries in Shizuoka City
- Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery: Promoting Japanese Whisky to the World
- Ikawa Distillery, a hidden gem at an altitude of 1,200m
- A special experience only possible on the "Shizuoka SAKE Trip"
Characteristics of whiskey distilleries in Shizuoka City
Shizuoka City is home to two whiskey distilleries: Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery and Ikawa Distillery. Both are located in areas surrounded by abundant forests and the abundant waters of the Abe River and Oi River, thanks to underground water from the Southern Alps. Gaia Flow is a venture distillery that began making whiskey in 2016, and Ikawa Distillery in 2020. They pursue a "Shizuoka-ness" in everything from raw materials to equipment materials and distillation methods, and aim to create a unique whiskey that is different from other distilleries, attracting attention not only from within Japan but also from overseas.
Gaia Flow Shizuoka Distillery: Promoting Japanese Whisky to the World
It is located in the Tamagawa area of Oku-Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture. They study the Scotch whisky making process in detail and are accumulating know-how every day to make "Japanese whisky that is as good as Scotch".
We aim to make whisky that is rooted in the local climate and in harmony with nature. We hold tours and whisky schools from time to time where you can experience whisky making unique to Shizuoka Distillery, such as fermentation tanks made from cedar wood produced in Shizuoka City and pot stills that distill using local firewood.
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The "S Series" is a single malt made by blending two types of whiskey, K and W, which are characteristic of Shizuoka Distillery.
The distillery is at one with nature, making generous use of cedar cypress grown in Shizuoka.
At Shizuoka Distillery, we use three stills to produce several different types of raw liquor.
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The Pot Still W is the only distiller in Japan that uses the traditional method of firewood distillation, which is rare in the world. "Pot Still W Pure Japanese Barley First Edition" won the category winner (best award)
The tour is attended by participants from both within Japan and overseas.
With a private cask, you can have a whiskey that is one of a kind.
Overview of Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery
Address: 555 Ochiai, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone number: 054-292-2555
Tour times: Weekdays 11:00-13:00, 13:45-15:45 / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 9:30-11:30, 12:20-14:20, 15:00-17:00
Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery Official Website
access
By public transport: Take the Shizutetsu Bus Abe Line from Shizuoka Station to Umegashima Onsen, get off at "Oku-no-harakami" and walk for 1 minute (approximately 60 minutes)
By car: Approximately 15 km (approximately 20 minutes) from Shin-Shizuoka IC
Ikawa Distillery, a hidden gem at an altitude of 1,200m
The Ikawa Distillery, which opened in 2011, is located in an area surrounded by the natural beauty of the Southern Alps. It is an ideal environment for whiskey production, with an abundance of wood resources for the barrels that are essential for whiskey production, spring water filtered through the pristine forest soil of the Southern Alps, and the cool, humid mist of the Southern Alps allowing the raw liquor to sleep and mature.
In the process of aiming for a 12-year-old whiskey, two series are currently on sale. "DESSIN SERIES Flora," released in 2024, is made using only non-peated bourbon barrel malt, which is the key malt of the Ikawa Distillery, and is a whiskey with a clean, sweet and elegant taste.
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"DESSIN SERIES Flora" released in 2024
Overview of "Ikawa Distillery"
"Ikawa Distillery" Product List
Address: 1299-1 Oharuki, Tashiro, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Phone number: 054-260-2245 / Reception hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00
Ikawa Distillery official website
access
By car: Approximately 3 hours 50 minutes from Shizuoka Station, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes from Shin-Shizuoka IC, approximately 4 hours from Shizuoka Airport
A special experience only possible on the "Shizuoka SAKE Trip"
On the Shizuoka SAKE Trip held on November 20, 2024, after a tour of the Gaiaflow Shizuoka Distillery, participants enjoyed chopping firewood for the distillery and tasting barrel-fresh whiskey that can only be tasted here. In addition, participants enjoyed special experiences that can only be experienced on the Shizuoka SAKE Trip, such as tasting raisin bread and stollen made with Gaiaflow whiskey, and smoked black tea made with recycled Gaiaflow barrels.
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A barrel-brewed sake tasting event that was only available to participants of the "Shizuoka SAKE Trip" held in 2024
Barrel whiskey aged on the 2024 Shizuoka SAKE Journey
The firewood for the distillery's W distillery is made from thinned logs from local forests, which are then chopped at the distillery.
This is a collaboration product between two popular bakeries in Shizuoka City. We had them try bread and stollen made with raisins soaked in Gaia Flow's whiskey, pairing them with the whiskey.
The black tea is smoked using recycled Gaia Flow whiskey barrels. It pairs perfectly with the whiskey and was a big hit with the tour participants.
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The "Shizuoka SAKE Trip" is a trip to visit the attractive sightseeing spots of Shizuoka while tasting three types of sake from Shizuoka. Shizuoka is an hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, an hour and 50 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka, and there is also a direct express bus from Haneda Airport, so it is a very accessible place. We will pick you up at Shizuoka Station in a chartered bus, so you can enjoy the tour easily and comfortably even if you have luggage.
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