Raw materials
kokuto (black cane sugar, used in some expressions)
cane juice / sugar cane (documented in some bottles)
Micro-distillery
Nine Leaves
Explore the spirits, production style and story of Nine Leaves.
Nine Leaves is a Japanese micro-distillery founded by Yoshiharu Takeuchi in Ōtsu (Shiga Prefecture), known for artisanal rums produced in small batches from kokuto (black cane sugar) and for a series of finishes in various cask types. Operational activity ended in the early 2020s and remaining stock was acquired and marketed, among others, through La Maison & Velier.
Artisanal rum micro-distillery
Japanese rum
Aged rums and small-batch releases
Craft production / single-cask
Producer range
Producer range Nine Leaves
Spirit categories
Artisanal rum micro-distillery
Japanese rum
Aged rums and small-batch releases
Craft production / single-cask
Representative products
Rhum Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Bourbon Oak Batch 70cl
Rhum Nine Leaves 2017 Ex-Russian Virgin Oak Batch 70cl
Rhum Nine Leaves Last Drops 70cl
Casks and ageing vessels
ex-bourbon
Russian mizunara (Russian oak / virgin oak)
Pedro Ximénez (sherry)
red wine casks
French / American oak (mentioned in various releases)
Distillation and production
Distillation and production
Production method
Small-batch production using copper stills (pot still style, equipment from established builders), base distillates obtained from cane sugar/cane extracts and aging in casks of varied origin; blending and small-batch bottlings for commercial releases.
Distillation
Distillation in small-batch pot stills; Forsyths equipment is cited among the stills used.
Ageing
Finishes in casks and re-assemblies: many expressions were aged/finished in different cask types and then combined into small batches (small batch / single-cask finishing depending on the release).
Producer history Nine Leaves
Founded by Yoshiharu Takeuchi as a micro-distillery in Ōtsu (Shiga Prefecture), Nine Leaves produced small-batch rums inspired by single malt techniques and using Japanese raw materials such as kokuto (black cane sugar). Production was managed artisanally by a small team (often described as a family-run / one‑man operation), with a range that included unaged whites and various cask-matured expressions. Production later ceased and remaining stocks were acquired and reissued by international operators and bottlers.
Production philosophy
A small-scale, handcrafted approach focused on the quality of the base material (kokuto / cane juices) and experimentation with maturation. Production orientation was inspired by monozukuri principles and maturation techniques typical of premium spirits, with experimentation across different cask types.
Territory
Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture (Japan); raw materials often linked to the Okinawa archipelago for specific sugars (kokuto) used in some expressions.
Nine Leaves
This producer is a useful reference point for enthusiasts looking for authentic spirits, distinctive production identity and a carefully selected online catalogue.
On this page you can discover the producer, understand its main categories and browse the products currently available for purchase.
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