A Distillery That Keeps Challenging: Nishi Shuzo's Ontake Distillery (Opened 2019) Announces 'SINGLE CASK STRENGTH JAPANESE WHISKY Ontake', Born from a Miraculous Single Cask!

Ontake Distillery, operated by Nishi Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Location: Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, CEO: Yoichiro Nishi), will release the single malt whisky "SINGLE CASK STRENGTH JAPANESE WHISKY Ontake No.18". This product is a special bottle drawn from a single selected Solera Sherry Butt matured in Spain, bottled at cask strength without any watering or blending. It is a masterful single cask from Ontake Distillery that harbors the rare phenomenon known as "Angel's whimsy," where the alcohol content increases during the maturation process. Because it is limited to just one cask, entry acceptance for lottery sales began at 11:00 AM on April 6, 2026.

A Single Cask Born from a Miraculous Cask The single malt whisky "SINGLE CASK STRENGTH JAPANESE WHISKY Ontake No.18" presented by Ontake Distillery was bottled exclusively from cask "No.18". The brewers themselves traveled to Spain to check the conditions and select a satisfactory Solera Sherry Butt. Among single casks, each with its own distinct personality, this particular cask reached an exceptionally superb state of maturation.

Utilizing all 180 years of distillation techniques, the new pot—crafted with in-house cultured yeast, carefully selected two-row barley, and meticulously calculated distillation methods—was filled into this special cask. After 5 years of maturation, through repeated tasting from the aged spirits, this ultimate single cask whisky was bottled from the one cask that made them say, "This is the one!"

A Special Cask Created by "Angel's Whimsy" Normally, during the whisky maturation process, alcohol slowly evaporates, and the alcohol by volume (ABV) gently declines. This is a natural providence widely known as the "Angel's Share."

However, in this cask number No.18, an extremely rare phenomenon was confirmed: the ABV actually increased as it continued to mature. Ontake Distillery calls this phenomenon "Angel's whimsy," and this miraculous cask was chosen at the very peak of its maturation. The final reached ABV is 55%. It is a truly one-of-a-kind cask born of natural coincidence.

Bottled in the Spirit's Purest Form