Founded in 1918 as Chugoku Shuri Jozo and later named Chugoku Jozo Co. Ltd. producing Sake, Sochu, and Whisky for the domestic markets.
Much like many distilleries in Japan, their early attempts at whisky-making weren’t entirely fruitful, and the 1989 Tax Reform causes the company to give up on creating their own, Japanese whiskies and instead moved towards importing spirit from around the world and blending it inside of Japan.
In 1990, they began making whisky for the export market and Togouchi was born. Togouchi whiskies are all aged in the unique 361 meters former railway tunnel built in 1970 that provides ideal conditions for aging. Togouchi is named after the town of Togouchi where the tunnel is located. The temperature in the tunnel is a constant 15 degrees Celsius with a humidity of 80% which Chugoku Jozo deems to be ideal conditions for aging whisky. Although blended in Japan, Togouchui Premium Whisky is a blend of Scottish malt and Canadian grain.
In 2018, Sakurao Distillery launched its Gins to the world, the Gins were renowned for the addition of local botanicals to create a uniquely Sakurao. Sakurao Gin Hamagou and Single Malt 1st Release Cask Strength was awarded Gold in “Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition 2022”. And the Sakurao Original Gin was awarded Superior Gold reconfirming the quality of this craft distillery to the international community.
At the same time, Sakurao started its journey toward its first-ever single malt distilled, aged, and blended in the Hiroshima region on the Seto Inland Sea. Created by Taihei Yamamoto, the House’s Master Distiller. Made from a combination of bourbon, new American oak, and sherry casks, in which the whiskies were matured for three years, the final blend also benefited from several months of maturation in mizunara casks, the famous Japanese oak.
Togouchi Single Malt 1st Release Cask Strength was awarded Double Gold by New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and The Sakurao 1st Release Cask Strength was awarded Gold.
