Award-Winning New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Brand 'POKENO' Launches in Japan
Key facts
- Award-Winning New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Brand 'POKENO' Launches in Japan
- Sincere Co., Ltd. announced the launch of Pokeno Whisky Co.'s single malt whiskies in the Japanese market starting in 2026. The distillery, based in the volcanic hills of New Zealand, is known for its rigorous craftsmanship, including 90-hour fermentation and in-house cooperage.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: May 20, 2026
Direct answer
Sincere Co., Ltd. announced the launch of Pokeno Whisky Co.'s single malt whiskies in the Japanese market starting in 2026. The distillery, based in the volcanic hills of New Zealand, is known for its rigorous craftsmanship, including 90-hour fermentation and in-house cooperage.
- Citation
- Award-Winning New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Brand 'POKENO' Launches in Japan (May 20, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- May 20, 2026
Sincere Co., Ltd. announced the launch of Pokeno Whisky Co.'s single malt whiskies in the Japanese market starting in 2026. The distillery, based in the volcanic hills of New Zealand, is known for its rigorous craftsmanship, including 90-hour fermentation and in-house cooperage.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 03:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 18:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 06:45 (12h 13m after Collected)
Sincere Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kenta Matsuno) announced that it will officially launch the single malt whiskies of Pokeno Whisky Co., an independent craft distillery located in the volcanic hills of New Zealand's North Island, in the Japanese market from 2026.
Founded by Matt and Cieron Johns, Pokeno is a family-owned distillery. They perform all processes in-house, including bottling, and house the only cooperage in New Zealand on their premises.
[Key Features]
- 90-hour fermentation period: Extracts rich fruity flavors.
- Slow double distillation using copper pot stills: Enhances sweetness and body.
- High Angel’s Share due to subtropical climate: Accelerates maturation (over 9% annually).
- Unique barrel usage: Uses first-fill bourbon, sherry, port, and wine casks, as well as the world's first casks made from native 'Totara' wood.
[Japan Launch Lineup]
1. [ORIGIN] Bourbon cask matured. Notes of vanilla, toffee, and butterscotch. MSRP (excl. tax): 7,000 JPY.
2. [DISCOVERY] Triple wood process. Notes of cherry and dark chocolate. MSRP (excl. tax): 8,500 JPY.
3. [ALCHEMY] A blend of 6 cask types. Nuances of spice and mulled wine. MSRP (excl. tax): 9,500 JPY.
4. [TOTARA CASK] Limited edition. Finished in Totara wood casks. Notes of peach and coconut. MSRP (excl. tax): 14,000 JPY.
5. [WINTER MALT] Limited edition. A blend of chocolate, toffee, and Manuka smoked malts.
Founded by Matt and Cieron Johns, Pokeno is a family-owned distillery. They perform all processes in-house, including bottling, and house the only cooperage in New Zealand on their premises.
[Key Features]
- 90-hour fermentation period: Extracts rich fruity flavors.
- Slow double distillation using copper pot stills: Enhances sweetness and body.
- High Angel’s Share due to subtropical climate: Accelerates maturation (over 9% annually).
- Unique barrel usage: Uses first-fill bourbon, sherry, port, and wine casks, as well as the world's first casks made from native 'Totara' wood.
[Japan Launch Lineup]
1. [ORIGIN] Bourbon cask matured. Notes of vanilla, toffee, and butterscotch. MSRP (excl. tax): 7,000 JPY.
2. [DISCOVERY] Triple wood process. Notes of cherry and dark chocolate. MSRP (excl. tax): 8,500 JPY.
3. [ALCHEMY] A blend of 6 cask types. Nuances of spice and mulled wine. MSRP (excl. tax): 9,500 JPY.
4. [TOTARA CASK] Limited edition. Finished in Totara wood casks. Notes of peach and coconut. MSRP (excl. tax): 14,000 JPY.
5. [WINTER MALT] Limited edition. A blend of chocolate, toffee, and Manuka smoked malts.
FAQ
What characterizes Pokeno whisky?
It is a single malt whisky featuring a 90-hour long fermentation and innovative aging methods, including the use of world-first Totara wood casks.
Why does Pokeno mature quickly?
The subtropical climate of New Zealand's North Island causes an angel's share of over 9% per year, accelerating the development of flavors.
What is a Totara cask?
It is the world’s first 200-liter cask crafted from Totara, a rare wood native to New Zealand, used to finish their innovative single malt whisky.