Producer
Yoshino Spirits Co
Yoshino Spirits Co is a Japanese company based in Osaka that operates as a spirits producer/exporter and brand. It is known for the Kamiki line (whisky) and for labels such as Umiki and Minoki; some Kamiki expressions were finished in casks of Japanese cedar (Yoshino-sugi).
- Osaka (headquarters); Soni, Nara (Kamiki Shuzou) · Nara (production) / Osaka (headquarters) · Japan
- 6 products
The story
Yoshino Spirits presents itself as an Osaka-based company focused on import/export and the international promotion of Japanese spirits brands. The official site reports the start of domestic sales in Japan in the second half of 2024. The site also describes Kamiki Shuzou (Kamiki Shuzo Nara Distillery) located in Soni, Nara prefecture, as the production site for Kamiki expressions.
Production philosophy
The stated mission is to promote and connect the heritage and craftsmanship of Japanese alcoholic products with foreign markets, focusing on quality selection, territorial storytelling and targeted international launches.
Territory
Japan (headquarters in Osaka). Production linked to Nara, with the Kamiki Shuzou distillery located in Soni, Nara prefecture.
Awards and recognition
Numerous recognitions cited in product/marketing sheets, including: Masters - Asian Spirits Business Awards (2023); Gold – LA Invitational Wine & Spirits Challenge (2022); Gold – Frankfurt International Trophy (2022); Gold – Asia Spirits Challenge (2022); recognitions at competitions such as SIP Awards, Ultimate Spirits Challenge and LA Spirits Competition in previous years (full list in sources).
Production method
Blending/assembly of malts (Kamiki is described as blended malt/100% malt for some expressions); primary maturation in used American oak casks followed by a finishing period in selected Japanese woods (e.g. Yoshino-sugi). Technical distillation details are not specified in the consulted sources.
Ageing
Initial aging in used American oak casks (e.g. indicated 7 years for some expressions), followed by a short finish period in Yoshino-sugi (Japanese cedar) casks for Kamiki expressions; other maturations in native woods (e.g. sakura) are reported for some references.
Characteristics
- Type
- Producer
- City
- Osaka (headquarters); Soni, Nara (Kamiki Shuzou)
- Categories
- Japanese whisky
- blended malt
- Japanese rum
- spirits import/export
- spirits brand
- Raw materials
- malt (whisky 100% malt)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- used American oak
- Yoshino-sugi (Japanese cedar)
- sakura (Japanese cherry)
- Representative products
- Kamiki Blended Malt Whisky - 50cl - Boxed
- Kamiki Intense Wood - 50cl - Boxed
- Kamiki Sakura Wood - 50cl - Boxed
- Minoki - 70cl - Boxed
- Reki - 70cl
- Umiki - 50cl
What makes it distinctive
- Kamiki: Japanese blended malt with a finish in Yoshino-sugi (Yoshino cedar) casks
- Kamiki Shuzou distillery located in Soni, Nara prefecture
- Headquarters in Osaka; export activity to over 120 countries (stated by the producer)
- Domestic sales in Japan launched in the second half of 2024 (stated by the producer)