Yamaga Whisky Distillery Visit Review[photos]Kumamoto,Japan
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We went to visit Yamaga Whisky Distillery in Kumamoto Prefecture, which opened in 2022.
What impressed us most was that the clear new pot, before it becomes whisky, was sweet and delicious.
Here’s a look at our visit(in 2022) and what we bought as souvenirs.
※For the latest information on English tours and whisky, please check the distillery’s official website.
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目次
What Is Yamaga Distillery?
It’s a new distillery that opened in 2022 in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Since it’s still new, there was no whisky at the distillery, and we could only drink the new pot.
But the building and atmosphere were really lovely, and though it was a short time, it was a very fun one.
Access/Location
The only way to get there is by car.
We arrived in about two and a half hours from Kagoshima Airport.
I’m not sure if it’s because it’s still new or intentional, but even the turns were in a spot that made us anxious about whether we’d really arrive.
- Yamaga Distillery — Tour Facility & Shop Overview
[Hours] 10:00–16:00
[Closed] Every Tuesday and Wednesday (year-end/New Year, temporary closures possible)
[Tour Content] Self-guided
[Admission] Free (whisky tasting and original coffee are paid)
[Booking] Not required (groups of 10 or more, please contact in advance)
[Parking] 10 cars (no parking space for large buses, etc.)
[Transport] ・About 20 minutes by car from Shin-Tamana Station on the Kyushu Shinkansen
・About 15 minutes by car from Kikusui IC on the Kyushu Expressway; about 15 minutes from Ueki IC
・About 10 minutes by car from Yamaga Bus Center
※ Quoted from the website
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You Can Tour Yamaga Distillery Without a Booking
We went in May 2022, and no booking was needed.
We were worried about whether it would be open, so we called just in case, and the person who took our call remembered us.
I went on May 3rd during Golden Week, but there weren’t that many people — only a few groups.
It was a very calm space, and we stayed about an hour.
How to Enjoy Yamaga Distillery
The first floor is the paid tasting and souvenir space, and going up to the second floor by the stairs at the back of that space, there’s a single-path tour space.
You can tour it freely.
The Second-Floor Tour Corner
You can freely tour the whisky-making process.
It’s a straight line, simple.
When we went, they happened to be distilling.
No one explains it for you, but we could see it enjoyably.
The First-Floor Souvenir Space
After the tour, to the souvenir corner.
▲ I bought a glass (1,600 yen), four coffees (1,000 yen), and two nuts (880 yen).
The First-Floor Paid Tasting
The whisky tasting was only the new pot, before it becomes whisky. (New pot with nuts, 300 yen)
But!! It was surprisingly delicious.
It might be an exaggeration, but it may be the most delicious new pot I’ve had.
It wasn’t harsh, and it was sweet and delicious.
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Summary
Yamaga Distillery, which had only just opened in 2022, had a great exterior and a very lovely tasting-venue atmosphere too.
I visited right after it opened, so it was a shame I couldn’t drink finished whisky yet, but tasting the new pot and its deliciousness made me really look forward to the finished whisky.
When you go to Kumamoto, please do visit the distillery.
In the tasting video for Yamaga New Born 2022, we talk about the distillery visit too.