"Hakkaisan Single Grain Uonuma 8 Year Rice Whisky 2026LIMITED" Lottery Application to Begin July 1 on Hakkaisan Online Store

Hakkaisan Brewery Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, President: Masato Nagumo, hereinafter "Hakkaisan Brewery") will release the rice grain whisky "Hakkaisan Single Grain Uonuma 8 Year Rice Whisky 2026LIMITED," made using only its own distilled raw spirit, in a limited quantity. General applications for a lottery will begin on July 1, 2026, via the Hakkaisan Online Store. It is also scheduled to be handled at bars in major cities through specialized distribution channels.

Last year's release, "2025LIMITED," was Hakkaisan Brewery's first whisky and was very well received. "2026LIMITED" maintains the concept of 100% own distilled raw spirit aged for 8 years or more, while offering a flavor unique to this year.

Hakkaisan Brewery's Challenge: Crafting Uonuma's Unique Whisky

Hakkaisan Brewery began producing its distilled spirit, rice shochu, at the Fukasawa Gen Distillery in 2005, and commenced whisky production at the same distillery in 2016. As a challenge unique to a sake brewery, it produces rice-based grain whisky. Whisky made solely from its own distilled raw spirit with rice as the main ingredient is a rare product with few parallels worldwide.

For the mash, "Raiden-sama no Shiro" (Raiden's Pure Water), the伏流水 (fukuryusui - underground water) from the sacred Mt. Hakkai, is used, and fermentation is carried out with sake yeast. To preserve the raw ingredients' flavor, distillation is limited to twice. For aging, as an endeavor that spans Japan's distilled spirit culture, barrels of "Hakkaisan Authentic Rice Shochu Oak Barrel Aged Fubai-ka"—an authentic rice shochu aged in oak barrels—are used. Only its own raw spirit, aged for 8 years or more in American white oak and French oak barrels, is used.

Expanding Hakkaisan's Whisky Production from Rice Grain Whisky

Starting with this rice grain whisky nurtured in Uonuma, Hakkaisan Brewery is advancing its whisky production across the entire group. At its group company, Niseko Distillery, located in Niseko Town, Hokkaido, malt whisky production began in 2021. Aging is progressing in Niseko's cool climate, and raw spirits with the unique character of each region are steadily maturing.

In the future, the company is considering the development of a blended Japanese whisky that combines Uonuma's rice grain whisky and Niseko's malt whisky. It will leverage the fermentation and brewing technology cultivated through sake production and the natural environment nurtured by the two heavy snowfall regions of Uonuma and Niseko. By harnessing the individuality of each, it aims to build a world of Hakkaisan's unique Japanese whisky.

Product Overview

Hakkaisan Single Grain Uonuma 8 Year

Rice Whisky 2026LIMITED

- Category: Whisky

- Ingredients: Rice (domestic), Malt

- Content: 700ml

- Alcohol Content: 52%

- Retail Price: 13,200 yen (tax included)

Tasting Notes

Color: Bright amber

Aroma: Elegant and soft aroma reminiscent of honey and brown sugar, following ripe citrus notes

Taste: Gentle sweetness derived from rice, rich flavor like marmalade, harmonious balance of pleasant acidity and astringency

Label

The label features the painting "Den'en Sou" by the late Yasuo Yamamoto, an artist from Hakkaisan Brewery's local area of Minamiuonuma, Niigata Prefecture.

Product Special Page

https://www.hakkaisan.co.jp/uonuma-whisky/

Sales Information

Due to limited quantity, sales will be by lottery.

Hakkaisan Online Store Lottery Sales

Lottery Application Start: July 1, 2026 (Wed) 10:00 AM

Lottery Application Deadline: July 21, 2026 (Tue) 9:00 AM

Lottery Application Window

https://ec-hakkaisan.com/blogs/pickup/hakkaisan-ricewhisky-2026-limited

Fukasawa Gen Distillery

Located within "Uonuma no Sato," a complex facility operated by Hakkaisan Brewery, it began producing shochu in 2005. Starting with rice shochu (distilled spirit), the product development involving aging that shochu in wooden barrels led to the commencement of whisky production in 2016. Additionally, it produces "Authentic Kasutori Shochu," made slowly using reduced-pressure distillation with only fresh sake lees as raw material, a byproduct of sake brewing, and plum wine made by blending rice shochu and sake raw spirit.

Address: 457 Minamimatsumori, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture

Hakkaisan Authentic Rice Shochu Oak Barrel Aged Fubai-ka

Utilizing sake brewing techniques, this authentic rice shochu is brewed using a three-stage fermentation process with sake yeast and yellow koji, then aged in oak barrels. The delicate ginjo aroma derived from sake harmonizes with the rich aroma from barrel aging, creating a profound flavor.

Category: Authentic Shochu

Ingredients: Rice (domestic), Malted Rice (domestic rice), Sake Lees

Distillation Method: Vacuum Distillation

Alcohol Content: 40%

Suggested Retail Price: 720ml 4,290 yen (tax included)

*Includes gift box

Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 Award-Winning Release

Niseko Distillery Co., Ltd.

Production began in 2021 in Niseko Town, a world-renowned ski resort surrounded by the quasi-national park Mt. Annupuri and the national park Mt. Yotei. Benefiting from the high-quality soft water unique to the heavy snowfall region, and the climate that doesn't get excessively cold within Hokkaido, it pursues the production of elegant, delicate, and well-balanced whisky. It also produces the craft gin "ohoro GIN" series. "ohoro GIN Standard" received the world's highest award in the Classic Gin category at the international competition "World Gin Awards 2024," and the highest award in the Gin category, the "Trophy," at the "International Spirits Challenge 2024," receiving high global acclaim.

Company Profile

- Company Name: Niseko Distillery Co., Ltd.

- Representative: Masato Nagumo, President and Representative Director

- Address: 478-15 Niseko, Niseko Town, Abuta District, Hokkaido

- Establishment: February 2019

- Founding: March 2021

- Business Activities: Whisky and gin production; store operations (retail, bar, etc.)

Manufacturer and Inquiries:

Hakkaisan Brewery Co., Ltd. 1051 Minamimatsumori, Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture Customer Service Room TEL: 0800-800-3865