Micro-distillery
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.
- Ōtsu · Shiga Prefecture · Japan
- Since 2013
- 3 products
Nine Leaves
Meet the producer
The story
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.
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).
Characteristics
- Type
- Micro-distillery
- City
- Ōtsu
- Categories
- Artisanal rum micro-distillery
- Japanese rum
- Aged rums and small-batch releases
- Craft production / single-cask
- Raw materials
- kokuto (black cane sugar, used in some expressions)
- cane juice / sugar cane (documented in some bottles)
- 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)
- 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
What makes it distinctive
- Founded by Yoshiharu Takeuchi as a micro-distillery in Ōtsu (Shiga).
- Artisanal production with a strong Japanese identity (use of kokuto and techniques inspired by single malt).
- Range includes both white/unaged rums and aged expressions finished in various casks.
- Stock and remaining inventory acquired and relaunched by international operators/bottlers (including La Maison & Velier).