I had been curious about the information that Niigata's famous sake "Yukishan" brewery, "Yukishan Brewery," had set up a distillery for whiskey and gin in Niseko (a group company). During a "Fall Hokkaido Railway-related Trip," we visited in between train photography. We visited right after the opening on Saturday (10 am). My companion booked a "tour" through the distillery's website (free). The distillery is located at the southern foothills of Mount Niseko Annupuri, west-southwest of Niseko Northern Resort Annupuri and Iroha Ryokan. There are no signs along the main road to the entrance (there is a sign at the entrance), so it may be difficult to find on your first visit. We got a little lost ourselves. The main triangular roof building and box-shaped storage warehouse are surrounded by forests. It was a very pleasant environment. There was a parking lot for about a dozen cars between the main building and the storage warehouse. Inside the main building, there is a bar counter, a free large table seat, a sales corner, toilets, etc. The distillation facility is located in the back left, where pot stills and tanks were visible. Everything is new and clean. Wood is used abundantly, creating a heavy and warm atmosphere. The high ceiling and glass on the right-hand side also provide a sense of openness. Terrace seats were also visible under the eaves. When we visited, there were three other groups of tour participants besides us, and 2-3 other customers. They were all tourists, such as middle-aged couples, groups of two men, and groups of 2-3 middle-aged women. Since there were few customers, we were able to enjoy the visit quietly. In the sales corner, in addition to the gin "ohoro GIN" made here, there were products from "Yukishan Brewery," selected alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, food, mainly craft products from Niigata Prefecture, etc. Just looking at these is enjoyable. There were also extremely expensive whiskies, which was quite surprising. By the way, the whiskey made here is still maturing and not yet for sale (scheduled for sale after 2024). We bought "ohoro GIN (300mL) for 1,705 yen (tax included)." After the tour, we were served a small amount of pre-matured whiskey made here (alcohol 65%) at the large table seat (tasting). Since it has a high alcohol content, it burns in the mouth. It feels quite rough as it is, but adding water makes it milder. After the tasting, we ordered paid drinks at the bar counter. The menu at the bar counter includes "ohoro GIN" straight, gin and soda, gin and tonic, martini, "Uonuma Whiskey" (a whiskey made in Minami Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, with a ratio of 1 malt to 9 rice) straight, highball, watered down, draft beer, non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, Baumkuchen, etc. The prices are a bit high. I ordered "ohoro gin and soda for 1,100 yen" and "Uonuma whiskey (straight 30mL) for 880 yen," while my companion who drove ordered "Niseko Hakka Tonic (non-alcoholic) for 990 yen" (all tax included). They were served promptly. The "ohoro gin and soda" came with a lime cut into a comb shape. It had a refreshing taste with a light sweetness. Along with the citrus flavor, a hint of mint was also felt. I really liked this. The "Uonuma whiskey" has an alcohol content of 58%. It had a mellow taste with a mild grainy flavor. It certainly tasted a bit different from regular whiskey... (laughs). The "Niseko Hakka Tonic" ordered by my companion seemed to be made by mixing mint syrup with tonic water. It was served with a lime cut into a comb shape. It had a slight unique taste, but my companion quite liked it. The distillery at the foot of Mount Niseko was really good. With the increase in popularity and the revival of inbound tourism, it is expected to get crowded, so be sure to visit before that!

I heard that there is a whisky distillery in Niseko, so I made a reservation for a tour. To my surprise, it was the distillery that makes the whisky of Yatsushiro. I didn't know until I went there. The building is stylish with high ceilings and lots of wood. It was nice to be able to relax on the terrace. It rained on and off that day, making the air feel clean and refreshing as I spent time on the terrace. Before the tour reservation time, I had a drink at the bar. I was able to try the whisky made from Yatsushiro's rice, which hasn't been released yet. It was delicious. They make two types of gin here. Normal and a lavender one, typical of Hokkaido. When I tasted it, I could really smell the lavender. I had the normal one in a gin and tonic. It had a nice juniper berry aroma and was easy to drink. The storage room where the barrels are stored for aging had a sweet alcohol smell due to the summer heat. Just being in there made me feel a bit tipsy. They said that the whisky would be aged for 3 years next year, but based on the current aging process, it seems like it will take a bit longer. Lastly, I tried a little bit of the distilled alcohol, still transparent and with a 60% alcohol content. They said that adding a little water would make it sweet, so I did a little experiment by adding a few drops. The moment it became sweeter really did come. It was a great experience to be able to try things that you can only find here and to take a tour. If you go to Niseko, be sure to visit.

I visited a distillery in Niseko in September 2022. The modern building with glass walls is lovely. The two copper pot stills are amazing, and they also offer tours. I bought a small craft gin called "ohoro" and various craft beers. The "Koji Belgian white" from Sankura Mountain Brewery has a nice aftertaste and is delicious. The Yotei Mountain beer is unique with a preferred bitterness.

Happy birthday! Today, on a personal note, my age on Tabelog has been updated to "early 50s" (sad face). I am feeling the fatigue from the consecutive holidays. ---------------------------- Hidden in the vast nature of Niseko, there is a new distillery that quietly exists. As one of the attractions on a drive to Mount Yotei in early autumn, I decided to stop by before heading to Niseko Grand Hotel. The two magnificent copper pot stills standing proudly are a sight to behold, but the open floor with its chic design is also worth noting. In addition to the craft gin produced here, the facility also showcases craft beers from other regions, ironware exhibitions, and offers guided tours and tasting experiences by reservation. This time, I purchased a small craft gin called "ohoro" and various craft beers. Upon returning home from the drive, I immediately tried one of the craft beers for my evening drink. The "Kakukura Mountain Brewery's Koji Belgian White" subtly incorporates the umami of koji, enhancing the bitterness of the beer skillfully, making it a perfect match for the flavors of food. Lately, I have been enjoying evening drinks with takeout side dishes more often, so I am looking forward to opening and enjoying the craft gin, their flagship product, soon. It's exciting to think about what kind of snacks would pair well with it.

I visited here again while visiting my relatives in Niseko. It was my second visit, so I'll keep it simple! I hadn't been here in 4 months. I was looking forward to seeing how many barrels had been added to the storage room, but due to the heavy snow in Niseko, there was a risk of snow falling from the roof, so the tour of the storage room was cancelled. I couldn't confirm, but it seems that there are about 113 barrels now. Also, the guide who showed us around had been replaced by an elderly woman. I would like to visit again in the spring when the snow melts. Thank you, Niseko Distillery! 🥃

I forgot to upload this series (;´∀｀) It's a visit from November 2021. I was moved by akasa-san's review and immediately made a reservation to visit. Since all the details are already written in akasa-san's review, I'll just share my impressions. When I arrived at Niseko Distillery, I couldn't believe it was so beautiful in the middle of the mountains. It's a completely pre-booked, limited to 10 people per day, with tours of the facilities and storage rooms taking about 60 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of tasting and shopping time. As soon as you step into the building, you are surrounded by breathtaking views from the windows, beautifully displayed products for sale, a counter for paid tastings, tables, and the whisky stills visible beyond the fence. Everything is meticulously designed and beautiful. The tour guide was also very kind and explained everything clearly. The freshly distilled whisky we tasted after the tour had an alcohol content of 65% and a sharp, prickly taste. I'm looking forward to how it will taste after aging in barrels. While whisky produced in Niseko won't be available until 2024, the gin made here is already on sale. The "Ohoro" craft gin (300ml for 1540 yen) is made from 13 botanicals including Hokkaido willow and Japanese peppermint, with an alcohol content of 47%. It had a slightly unique taste, but once you get used to it, it's quite addictive. The paid tasting included "Uonuma Whisky" (880 yen), a grain whisky made with a ratio of 1:9 malt to rice and aged for 4 years in Minami Uonuma. With an alcohol content of 58%, it was surprisingly smooth and delicious. Niseko Distillery is run by Hakkaisan Brewery from Niigata, and it was exciting to see President Nangumo's dream come to life in Niseko. The storage room can hold up to 500 barrels, and on the day of my visit, there were 76 barrels. I couldn't find the No.1 barrel, but I did find the No.2 barrel. I look forward to visiting regularly to enjoy the completion of the whisky at Niseko Distillery. Thank you, Niseko Distillery!

At Niseko Distillery, you can enjoy a gin and tonic. #ohorogin #I'm the driver so I can't drink #Niseko #hokkaidolove #This is the best part of Hokkaido #enolog

Craft gin has a nice smell.

I was looking forward to visiting a place in Niseko where whiskey production has started. Although it will be available in 3 years, the cold climate allows for a slower aging process, so it may take a bit longer. Currently, they have produced gin, and Niseko Craft Gin, Ohoro, is gaining attention. I booked a tour to visit the only distillery in Niseko that opened on October 1, 2021. They have high-quality water and a climate that is not too cold, which is ideal. This distillery is a subsidiary of Y.K. Hakkaisan, known for Hakkaisan Brewery in Niigata. They obtained a whiskey production license in 2016. The 4-year aging of rice and malt Glen whiskey is said to be a rarity not even sold in Niigata. They started distilling in March 2021 using water from the Annupuri well. The interior space is woody, with tables and chairs made from Asahikawa wood. The distillery uses a lot of wood, which is rare. The retail area has Japanese traditional crafts and sake from Shichikura. They also have whiskey, with prices exceeding 5 million yen! I tried the New Pot 60-degree before aging in barrels. It was young but delicious and pure. The water from Annupuri is extremely soft. I bought Ohoro, which is limited to 4 small bottles and 1 large bottle per person. The lovely Tanaka-san, who guided us, is actually the daughter of the master brewer at Hakkaisan. She moved here after changing jobs within the group company. I was impressed by her dedication to her family. I definitely want to visit this place again! It's a gem in Hokkaido. Note: I have not tried the gin yet. I got the Ohoro, which has a refreshing and easy-to-drink taste with a hint of gentleness, similar to a herbivorous man.