Nagahama Whisky Distillery Tour Review[photos]-Shiga, Japan
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It’s near Nagahama Station in Shiga Prefecture. We went to visit Nagahama Distillery!(in 2024)
We’ve been to many distilleries by now, but what impressed us most this time was that it’s attached to a restaurant, where you can have delicious food and whisky that pairs with it.
Here’s a look at our visit.
※For the latest information on English tours and whisky, please check the distillery’s official website.
※ Sorry, we spoke all Japanese…Please turn on English subtitles to watch.
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What Is Nagahama Distillery?
Nagahama Distillery is located in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and is one of the smallest craft whisky distilleries in Japan.
Founded in 2016, it makes whisky that draws on Nagahama’s local nature and climate.
Its dedication is reflected in the careful production process unique to small-batch making, and in a flavor that makes use of traditional techniques — earning high praise among whisky fans at home and abroad.
Access / Location
It’s right by Nagahama Station in Shiga Prefecture and very easy to reach from the station.
We took the train from Osaka, an hour and a half.
You can also transfer from Maibara on the Shinkansen to a local line.
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Tour / How to Book
The tour requires advance booking, and even we booked on the day reservations opened and it filled up immediately.
There aren’t many slots, so I’d recommend keeping an eye on the site.
Booking site: Nagahama Distillery Tour Booking Calendar
Right as you enter there are the stills and so on, and it smells wonderful; when you check in at the entrance, they show you to a seat set up in the restaurant.
When we went, they happened to be cleaning, and you can watch the craftsmanship right in front of you.
On the tour, the person in charge of making the whisky explained the process from mashing to fermentation, distillation, and maturation.
We happened to be able to see the cask filling too.
Tasting
The post-tour tasting was three kinds.
What personally made me happy was getting to drink the new pot.
For whisky lovers, the new pot — where the whisky’s individuality comes through — is irresistible. Those not used to it, take care! lol
We had it in the restaurant venue.
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Restaurant
Since we’d made a reservation, we had a meal right there in the same place.
As you’d expect from a place that has long run a restaurant, the food was really delicious.
The smoked dishes and dishes using Omi beef were superb.
Nick was totally hooked on the new-make highball.
There were two kinds, peated and non-peated.
I had a whisky tasting flight set.
There was craft beer too, and it was an irresistible time for anyone who loves a drink.
It was a truly satisfying meal.
The Shop
At the shop, you can buy Nagahama Distillery’s single malt whisky and distillery-exclusive hand-fills.
There was hand-fill whisky for the first time in Japan.