In today’s global luxury market, Japanese whisky and craft gin are becoming more than simply alcoholic drinks. What people seek is no longer taste alone.
Air, water, silence, craftsmanship, architecture, design — the question is whether a bottle can capture the atmosphere of a place that exists nowhere else.
Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
Tankyu Distillery, based in Higashikawa, Hokkaido, may embody that idea perfectly. The distillery has officially launched production of its single malt whisky using underground spring water from Mt. Asahidake in the Daisetsuzan mountain range, releasing a limited-edition “Single Malt New Pot” while simultaneously opening applications for its “Private Cask Program 2026.” Alongside the whisky project, Tankyu previously introduced its craft gin series “Yuki no Mado,” made with locally sourced Higashikawa rice and Todo fir. In January 2026, the distillery also launched its guided distillery tour program, “Discover.”
Distilling the Air of Hokkaido
What makes Tankyu Distillery compelling is not simply its use of Hokkaido ingredients.
The distillery aims to “express the beauty found within the quietness of Higashikawa, Hokkaido through spirits.” Located in a town often referred to as the “Town of Photography,” Higashikawa is defined by snowmelt water flowing from the Daisetsuzan mountains and an atmosphere carrying a clarity distinct from urban environments.
Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
That sense of place is deeply reflected in both the whisky and gin.
The craft gin “Yuki no Mado” incorporates rice koji made from Higashikawa rice alongside Todo fir leaves sourced through local forest thinning initiatives. Combined with notes of yuzu and citrus, the gin evokes a cool freshness that seems to dissolve into snow itself.
Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
Meanwhile, the newly released new pot uses 100% British floor-malted barley while employing underground spring water from Mt. Asahidake throughout every stage of production, from mashing to dilution. The distillery also utilizes a mash filter — still rare even on a global scale — to produce a rich and full-bodied wort. Fermentation takes place over an extended 168-hour period using both stainless steel and wooden washbacks, creating a spirit layered with lush, grape-like aromas.
Rather than simply imitating Scotch whisky, the result feels closer to an attempt to translate the climate and atmosphere of Hokkaido into liquid form.
Where Craft Meets International Perspective
Leading the production team are Chow Ei Shun, creator of the highly acclaimed “Perfume Trees Gin” in Hong Kong, and master distiller Dar Wei Hsieh, who trained as a distiller and blender in Scotland.
Chief Distiller Dar Wei Hsieh | Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Japan — the distillery carries a distinctly international perspective shaped by experiences across multiple cultures.
Many of the Japanese craft spirits currently gaining attention overseas avoid overemphasizing “Japaneseness.” Instead, they quietly express locality, texture, and sensitivity through materials and atmosphere. Tankyu Distillery shares that sensibility.
Its bottle design, naming, and spacious visual identity carry an aesthetic language closer to contemporary perfume or modern industrial design than to traditional whisky branding.
Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
From “Drinking” to “Visiting”
Equally intriguing is the distillery tour program, “Discover.”
In recent years, the global luxury travel market has increasingly embraced the idea of the “destination distillery” — places valued not only for what is consumed, but for the surrounding landscape, people, process, and atmosphere behind production.
Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
At Tankyu Distillery, visitors can explore areas of the production facility normally closed to the public while learning about the actual distillation process and equipment. The experience concludes with a guided tasting session. English-language tours are also held regularly, reflecting a strong awareness of international travelers.
Courtesy of Tankyu Distillery
Hokkaido’s landscape, craft spirits, architectural space, and silence.
By bringing these elements together into a single experience, Tankyu Distillery may ultimately become a new symbol of what could be called “northern Japanese luxury.”
【INFORMATION】
Tankyu Distillery
Address:
Kita 23, Nishi 2-go, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
Main Products:
“Yuki no Mado” Dry Gin
Single Malt New Pot
Distillery Tour “Discover”:
>Schedule: Generally held on Saturdays and Sundays (advance reservation required)
>Languages: Saturday (Japanese) / Sunday (English)
>Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
*Participation: Guests aged 20 and over only
*Alcohol will not be served to drivers. Take-home tasting samples are available as an alternative.
The Editorial Team
AloJapan.com