The Sakurao Brewery and Distillery Co. was founded in 1918 in the town of Sakurao in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima. It was initially known as Chugoku Jozo and they produced sake, as well as attempted to create their own single malt whisky.
Much like many distilleries in Japan, their early attempts at whisky-making weren’t entirely fruitful, and the ‘silent period’ of the 1980s was particularly tough on the company. At this point, they decided to give up on creating their own, Japanese whiskies and instead moved towards importing spirit from around the world and blending it inside of Japan.
However, in recent times, with the introduction of new labeling standards to the Japanese whisky industry, Sakurao are once again revisiting their long-lost dream of producing their own single malt whisky, and this week we’re delighted to showcase their first expressions.
In 2018 they founded a new distillery in the heart of Sakurao (meaning Cherry Blossom in Japanese) where they turned their 100 years of innovation experience into the creation of the first gin to come from the Hiroshima region.
Their skill in bringing innovation to traditional spirits and with Sakurao Gin they bring the best flavours of the East to one of the West's most-loved spirits.
