Japanese craft whiskey Ichiro's Malt to build distillery in Hokkaido

Producer Venture Whisky to acquire 6.6 hectares of land for the plant

Ichiro's Malt & Grain whisky, made by Venture Whisky, won the World's Best Blended Limited Release award in the World Whiskies Awards 2023, a competition held by Whisky Magazine, a British specialty publication. (Photo courtesy of Venture Whisky)

HIROTO ARAMAKI, Nikkei staff writer

May 28, 2023 14:54 JST

SAITAMA, Japan -- Venture Whisky, the craft distiller known for its award-winning Ichiro's Malt whisky, will build a distillery in Hokkaido in northern Japan and start making grain whisky there as early as the spring of 2025, the company said.

Founded in 2004, Venture Whisky has spearheaded a craft-whisky boom in Japan and has mentored other distillers in whisky making.