Fukano

Established in 1823 in Hitoyshi City of the Kumamoto region of Japan - Fukano Distillery is a brand of historically crafted whisky created by the Fukano family. Fifth-generation owner and manager Shigeruriku Fukano upholds the legacy his family has left behind, using premium combinations of malted and un-malted rice to produce one-of-a-kind distillates, using a traditional pot still. The distillery is also known as the first in the region to mature its liquor, or shochu, in barrels - a method mastered by Chizuru Fukano, mother to the current distillery president, Seiichi Fukano. Fukano's use of post-wood distillation turns the shochu into what is classed as a kind of whisky - though not considered to be a Japanese whisky per se. Each batch of whisky is crafted for export only and produced in very limited quantities, making it highly sought-after by connoisseurs. The distillery's range includes Fukano Select, Sherry Cask, Blonde, and Single Cask iterations, as well as specialized releases like the Distillery Vault Reserve - a blend of aged whisky cask matured and then held in singular tanks for upwards of 16 years.