The planned Komoro Distillery will be opened just a few away miles from the original Karuizawa Distillery in Japan, and at its helm will be former Kavalan Whisky master blender and distiller Ian Chang.
New rules governing Japanese whisky production âlong overdueâ
11 March 2021 By Lauren Eads
Rules to regulate the production of Japanese whisky come into force on April 1, with producers no longer able to label malts blended with world whiskies as ‘Japanese’ and marking the “dawning of a new era” in the evolution of Japanese whisky.
Ian Chang, vice president Karuizawa Distillers Inc., and master blender and distiller at Komoro Distillery
Last month, as reported by
the drinks business, The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association issued a new set of labelling guidelines for Japanese whisky âin order to contribute to the appropriate selection of whisky products by consumers in Japan and abroad, and to thereby protect the interests of consumers, ensure fair competition, and improve quality.â
Japan s new Komoro Distillery will honour Karuizawa s legacy Japanese distilling company Karuizawa Distillers Inc. (KDI) has announced the opening of a new distillery in the country with whisky-making pedigree at its heart. Founded by hotel owners and husband-and-wife team Koji and Yoshie Shimaoka, KDI is named after the now-closed but world-renowned Karuizawa Distillery whose rare liquids are highly sought after. The Shimaokas dreamt of reviving whisky making locally while honouring and protecting the legacy of Karuizawa, and have pledged to make their operations as environmentally friendly as possible. At the heart of their business will be a new production facility, Komoro Distillery, which is set to open in 2022. KDI officially launched the project in a ceremony at the Komoro Town Hall on 12 December.
Komoro Distillery to honour Karuizawa name 14th December, 2020 by Owen Bellwood
Newly-formed Karuizawa Distillers has unveiled plans to build a new Japanese whisky distillery in Komoro, which is due to begin production in 2022.
The Komoro Distillery will have a limited production capacity when it opens
Karuizawa Distillers was formed by CEO Koji Shimaoka with the aim of constructing a ‘state-of-the-art’ distillery that could ‘honour’ the Karuizawa name.
Through its proposed Komoro Distillery, Karuizawa Distillers hopes to “protect the legacy” of the Japanese brand, while producing single malt “in the most environmentally friendly way possible”.
Shimaoka said: ‘Karuizawa whisky is a global symbol of the rich nature and history of our local area. I want to protect and honour this great name, whilst creating a new legend in the place I have called home for over 20 years.”