Kurokabegura Distillery
In the quiet town of Takanabe-cho, where the Hyuga Sea shimmers to the east and Mount Osuzu watches from the north, nature and tradition exist in harmony. It is here that the Kurokabegura Distillery stands. Within its walls, Takara Shuzo – owners of the Tomatin Distillery – bring over a hundred years of distilling and brewing wisdom to life.
Allow us to introduce Kurokabegura Single Malt Japanese Whisky:
Precision. Purity. Provenance.
The Kurokabegura Distillery has long been at the heart of distillation for Takara Shuzo, shaped by more than one hundred years of tradition. It is here that this remarkable new Japanese whisky begins its journey.
With a legacy of excellence in shochu production, the distillery has earned global acclaim at prestigious competitions including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC). This new single malt builds on that heritage. Crafted with precision and purpose, it exemplifies the distillery’s unwavering commitment to producing exceptional Japanese whisky.
Test production for Whisky at Kurokabegura began in 1982, although the distillery itself was established in 1952. Handwritten records from those early years reflect a quiet dedication and a lasting passion for the craft of whisky making.
The copper pot stills used to shape Kurokabegura Single Malt were crafted in Scotland and installed in 1979. Their design follows the style of the historic Shirakawa distillery where Japanese whisky was produced in the 1950s. Although Shirakawa closed in 2003, its spirit continues through this legacy.
Kurokabegura Single Malt is produced in line with the Japanese Spirits & Liquors Makers Association regulations; made with malted barley, mashed, fermented, distilled and matured in Japan for at least 3 years in wooden casks up to 700 litres. It will be bottled in Japan at a minimum of 40% vol.
Takara Shuzo has spent many years mastering the art of cask maturation through its experience with shochu. Around 85 unique expressions of cask matured shochu have been developed, each one contributing to their deep understanding of wood and time.
At the Kurokabegura Distillery, there is a dedicated cooperage where each cask is carefully managed, restored and prepared. This close attention allows the whisky to mature under expert care and achieve its finest character.
As a first glimpse of what is to come, we are proud to share a rare preview of Kurokabegura Single Malt. A limited number of bottles of its new make spirit will be available soon.
The aroma is rich and sweet, with notes of raisins, banana and honey. On the palate, a deep and lingering maltiness invites you to return for more.
