Brand
Togouchi
Togouchi is a Japanese whisky brand linked to the historic Chugoku Jozo / Sakurao Brewery and Distillery (Hiroshima). Born as a range of blends obtained from imported whiskies aged under particular conditions, the collection today also includes single malts produced at the Sakurao Distillery.
- Hatsukaichi (Sakurao headquarters) / Akiota-Togouchi (underground warehouses) · Hiroshima Prefecture · Japan
- Since 1918
- 10 products
The story
The Togouchi line was developed by the long-established Chugoku Jozo (today Sakurao Brewery and Distillery), founded in 1918 in the Hatsukaichi area (Hiroshima Prefecture). For years Togouchi was known as a blend made from imported whiskies (Scotch malt whisky and Canadian grain whisky) that were aged and assembled in Japan; following the opening of the Sakurao Distillery (an initiative started in 2017/2018), the range expanded to include single malts produced locally.
Production philosophy
To combine blending and maturation techniques with the specific characteristics of the Hiroshima territory: careful control of ageing (including underground warehouses) and experimentation with unusual finishes to offer both blended expressions and 100% Japanese bottlings.
Territory
Hiroshima Prefecture (Hatsukaichi for the Sakurao Distillery; Akiota/Togouchi for the ageing warehouses, including the gallery/tunnel used for maturations).
Production method
For the historic blends: import of already distilled whiskies (malt and grain), followed by ageing, blending and bottling in Japan. For more recent expressions: distillation of single malts at the Sakurao Distillery, followed by controlled maturation and finishing.
Distillation
The historic blends do not originate from in-house distillation but from blending and ageing of imported distillates; the more recent single malts are distilled using traditional methods at the Sakurao Distillery.
Ageing
Maturation in casks using characteristic warehouses (including an underground tunnel in Togouchi/Akiota with constant temperature and humidity); use of primary maturation followed by finishes in different cask types.
Characteristics
- Type
- Brand
- City
- Hatsukaichi (Sakurao headquarters) / Akiota-Togouchi (underground warehouses)
- Categories
- Japanese whisky
- blended whisky
- Japanese single malt
- whisky with distinctive finishing
- Raw materials
- malted barley
- grain whisky (imported whisky for blends; reported origin: Canada)
- imported malt whisky (reported origin: Scotland)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- bourbon barrels
- sherry casks
- brandy casks
- sake casks (sake cask finish)
- beer casks (beer cask finish)
- Representative products
- Togouchi 15 years - 70cl
- Togouchi 9 years - 70cl
- Togouchi Premium - 70cl
- Togouchi Beer Cask Finish - 70cl
- Togouchi Sake Cask Finish - 70cl
- Togouchi Single Malt - 70cl
- Togouchi Kiwami Blended - 70cl
What makes it distinctive
- Origin of the blends: assembly of Scottish malt and Canadian grain whiskies imported and 'naturalized' in Japan.
- Ageing in distinctive warehouses, including an abandoned railway tunnel at Togouchi/Akiota.
- Recent development of single malts produced at the Sakurao Distillery (started in 2017/2018).
- Ranges with unusual finishes (sake cask, beer cask).