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Private whisky cask collection ageing in Tankyu Distillery warehouse, Hokkaido

Private Cask Programme 2027

The Private Cask Programme offers your own whisky from a single cask: follow it as it matures through Higashikawa's seasons, and receive it in bottle when the time comes.

Official entitlement certificate providedCosts set out before you sign1 working day response

Choose Your Cask

Signature Cask

100% Mizunara Oak Hogshead

220LLimited to 10 casks
UK malt (6 casks)
¥4,462,500
Japanese malt (4 casks)
¥4,675,000

before tax · filled 2026

A 220L hogshead coopered in Toyama from Mizunara oak around two centuries old. Choose from casks filled with spirit in 2026. With long maturation, Mizunara is known to develop distinctly Japanese aromas reminiscent of agarwood (kyara) and sandalwood.

  • Spirit filled in 2026
  • Choose UK or Japanese malt
  • Agarwood & sandalwood notes with long maturation
8 years storage included
Bottling at cask strength included
Classic Choice

Ex-Bourbon American Standard Barrel

180–200LLimited to 20 casks (10 per malt)
Japanese malt / UK peated malt
¥2,070,000

before tax

An American white oak ex-bourbon cask (180–200L), filled with your choice of Japanese malt or UK peated malt spirit. Sweet notes of vanilla and caramel weave into the spirit for a rounded, well-balanced, classic maturation.

  • Choose Japanese malt or UK peated malt
  • American white oak
  • Vanilla & caramel notes
3 years storage included
Bottling at cask strength included
Coming Soon Online

5-Gallon Finish Cask

approx. 19LLimited to 200 casks
UK malt
¥356,400

tax included · bottling included

Casked in 2027, the spirit matures for two and a half years in a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon cask, then is filled to the brim into a new American oak 5-gallon cask for a six-month finish. A private cask sized to be enjoyed at home, to be sold on our online shop with no consultation needed (coming soon).

  • Angel's share for the first 2.5 years absorbed by the distillery
  • Filled to the brim into a 5-gallon cask for a 6-month finish
  • Standard private cask label printed with your name
Bottled in Q3 2030
Bottled with your name on the label and delivered to your address in Japan (excluding Okinawa)

* Stated volumes are nominal. Casks are hand-coopered from natural wood, so actual capacity may vary slightly between casks.

Bark of a Mizunara oakⓘ

Signature Cask

About Mizunara Oak

Mizunara is a wood closely tied to Japanese whisky. For the 2027 programme, we offer 220L hogsheads coopered in Toyama and filled with our spirit in 2026, with eight years of storage included.

for a tree to reach cask size
~200 yrs
hogshead
220L
storage included
8 yrs
  1. 01

    An oak native to Japan

    Mizunara (Quercus crispula) is an oak native to Japan, Hokkaido included. A tree needs around 200 years to grow thick enough for cask staves, and each tree yields relatively little usable timber.

  2. 02

    Part of Japanese whisky history

    In the 1940s, when imported casks became hard to obtain, Japanese whisky makers turned to home-grown Mizunara. It has remained a distinctly Japanese maturation cask ever since.

  3. 03

    Hard to make into a cask

    Mizunara holds a lot of moisture and is prone to leaking, so it is known as a difficult wood to cooper. That is one reason so few Mizunara casks exist.

  4. 04

    Agarwood and sandalwood, given time

    Young, the wood speaks loudly; with long maturation it is known to turn into a distinctive character reminiscent of agarwood (kyara) and sandalwood.

5-Gallon Finish Cask

A private cask sized to be enjoyed at home, soon to be available directly from our online shop. Small casks bring particular challenges, and we have met them in our own way.

Small casks lose more to the angels

The smaller the cask, the more wood each litre of spirit touches, and the more evaporates each year. Over several years of maturation, the contents visibly diminish.

The wood can dominate

The high proportion of wood contact speeds maturation, but it also makes the spirit prone to over-oaking — excessive astringency and woody character.

Our Approach

  1. 0–2.5 years

    Matured in a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon cask

    The spirit first matures unhurriedly for two and a half years in a full-size ex-bourbon cask. The distillery absorbs the angel's share during this period.

  2. Year 2.5

    Filled to the brim into a 5-gallon cask

    The matured spirit is transferred, filled to the brim, into a new American oak 5-gallon cask (approx. 19L) for a six-month finish.

  3. Q3 2030

    Bottling & delivery

    Bottled at three years old and delivered under the standard private cask label printed with your name.

The spirit spends only its final six months in the small cask — limiting the angel's share and the risk of over-oaking, with a six-month finish in new oak. The only evaporation you bear is from those six months.

Terms of Purchase

How to buy
Purchased directly from our online shop (no consultation or individual contract required; coming soon). Your order is placed when you accept the terms shown at checkout.
Price
¥356,400 (tax included, bottling included)
Spirit
UK malt
Maturation
2.5 years in a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon cask → 6 months in a new American oak 5-gallon cask
Bottling
Q3 2030 (fixed)
Label
Standard private cask label printed with your name
Delivery
To your chosen address in Japan (excluding Okinawa). Please enter the delivery address when ordering.
Benefits
A Private Cask Entitlement Certificate is issued. A brass nameplate, distillery visit, sampling during maturation and regauges during maturation are not included.
Quantity
Limited to 200 casks

We will announce the launch on our online shop and on this page.

Distillery team constructing a traditional wooden washback
Tankyu Distillery worker rolling oak casks outdoors
iStill distillation equipment on the Tankyu Distillery production floor
A distiller in a black beanie filling oak casks with new spirit from a hose

Private Cask Privileges

Bottling at Cask Strength Included

For the 2027 programme, bottling at cask strength into standard 700ml bottles with the distillery's labels and packaging is included in the cask price. If you choose to reduce ABV by adding water, additional bottle costs apply due to the increased yield. Non-standard bottles and custom labels are available at additional cost.

Entitlement Certificate

Once your cask has been filled, you receive a formal Entitlement Certificate bearing your name, and a personalised brass nameplate is affixed to your cask — tangible proof of your entitlement from the outset.

Maturation Sampling

Follow the evolution of your whisky over the years. Cask samples are available during maturation — visit the distillery in person or request delivery by post (sampling fees apply) — and experience the flavour journey from new make to mature spirit.

Distillery Visit

Each Mizunara and ex-bourbon cask comes with one complimentary VIP distillery visit for up to three people (you and two guests). View your cask in the warehouse, tour the production floor, and enjoy a guided tasting — a moment to share with those who matter most.

Full Transparency

Our contract clearly sets out the key terms, including your entitlement scope and the expected annual evaporation (angel's share). We walk you through every term before you sign.

One-to-One Consultation

After you enquire, our team will reach out personally to arrange a one-to-one consultation — via Zoom, phone, or in person — to answer your questions and tailor a maturation plan to your needs.

* For the 5-Gallon Finish Cask, the benefits are bottling under a label printed with your name and a Private Cask Entitlement Certificate.

Your Name on the Cask

Each Mizunara and ex-bourbon cask bears a brass nameplate engraved with your name.

PRIVATE CASK

James Anderson

Ex-Bourbon Cask #001 · 200L

Filled 2027

Illustration only. Actual plaque design may differ.

For Businesses & Organisations

Commission bespoke bottles for company milestones, client gifts, or VIP occasions — your own label on a Hokkaido whisky that leaves a lasting impression. For bars and restaurants, a house whisky no other venue can pour gives guests something they will remember.

For Individual Collectors

The cask set aside for you matures quietly in Higashikawa, Hokkaido. When the day comes to bottle it and share a glass with the people who matter to you, every pour carries a story the years have written.

Timeline

  1. Cask Fill

    After contract, casks are filled in order (Mizunara casks filled in 2026)

  2. Entitlement Certificate

    Receive your Private Cask Entitlement Certificate

  3. Maturation Samples

    Periodic sampling available (fee applies; not for 5-gallon casks)

  4. Bottling & Delivery

    From 3 years onward, at your chosen timing (5-gallon casks: Q3 2030)

Angel's Share

As whisky matures in the cask, a small portion naturally evaporates each year — distillers call this the angel's share.

Estimated Bottle Yield (700ml)

Cask Type

3 yr10152025 yr

Estimated 700ml bottles

~269

Angel's share: 14.3% lost over 3 years

* For illustration purposes only. Actual angel's share may vary depending on climate, warehouse conditions, and maturation length.

* Stated volumes are nominal. Casks are hand-coopered from natural wood, so actual capacity may vary slightly between casks.

Limited Release

Taste the spirit before the cask.

The New Pot is Tankyu Distillery's spirit before it goes into cask. Taste it at home before your cask begins its journey.

Discover the New Pot

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the New Pot relate to the Private Cask programme?
The New Pot is Tankyu Distillery's spirit before it is matured in cask, so you can taste the unaged spirit at home. The malt in your cask depends on the option you choose, but the New Pot still shows where maturation begins. See our product information for details.
How much whisky will evaporate during maturation?
In Hokkaido's climate, approximately 5% of the spirit evaporates each year (the angel's share). You are entitled to all the whisky that remains in your cask. The evaporation is part of the maturation process and contributes to flavour concentration. For the 5-Gallon Finish Cask, the distillery absorbs the evaporation of the first two and a half years, and the 5-gallon cask is filled to the brim.
Besides the cask price, what other costs should I expect?

For Mizunara and ex-bourbon casks in the 2027 programme, bottling at cask strength into 700ml bottles with the distillery's standard labels and packaging is included in the cask price. If you choose to cut the whisky down to a lower ABV, the resulting increase in bottle count will incur additional bottle costs. Non-standard bottles and custom packaging also carry additional fees. The cask price includes storage for the stated number of years. Please note that the wooden cask itself is retained by the distillery after bottling. The 5-Gallon Finish Cask is priced tax included, with bottling included.

Annual storage (after included period)¥25,000 / cask / yearAdditional bottles (when cutting to lower ABV)¥350 / bottleNon-standard bottling — 50ml¥350 / bottleNon-standard bottling — 500ml¥450 / bottleNon-standard bottle procurement (if not in stock)Quoted separatelyCustom label printing¥60,000 / design (printing only)Cask sampling — at distillery¥2,300 / visit (100ml)Cask sampling — by mail¥3,000 + postage (100ml)Final regauge (before bottling)Included in cask priceAdditional regauge (during maturation)¥190,000 / session (max 1/year)Taxes (liquor tax, consumption tax, etc.)At prevailing rate at bottlingShippingVaries by destination & packaging
Can I have custom labels on my bottles?
Yes, for Mizunara and ex-bourbon casks. At bottling time, we offer custom label printing at ¥60,000 per design (printing only; design is quoted separately). You can create one-of-a-kind bottles featuring your name, brand, or a special message. The cask price covers one complete bottling of the entire cask; the whole cask is bottled in a single session, and we do not offer partial or batch bottling. The 5-Gallon Finish Cask is bottled under the standard private cask label printed with your name.
Can I transfer my entitlement of private cask?
Yes. Entitlement of private cask can be transferred to a new holder. A name change fee of ¥21,000 applies per transfer, payable by the new holder.
Which cask types are available for 2027?
We offer three cask types: a 220L 100% Mizunara Hogshead (filled 2026; UK malt ¥4,462,500 / Japanese malt ¥4,675,000, before tax), a 180–200L Ex-Bourbon American Standard Barrel (Japanese malt or UK peated malt, ¥2,070,000, before tax), and an approx. 19L 5-Gallon Finish Cask (UK malt, ¥356,400, tax included). Mizunara and ex-bourbon casks are contracted after a consultation; the 5-Gallon Finish Cask will be sold directly through our online shop — coming soon.
What is the payment schedule?
Mizunara casks are paid in full upon signing the contract. Ex-bourbon casks are paid in two instalments: 50% upon signing the contract, and the remaining 50% after your cask has been filled. The 5-Gallon Finish Cask is paid at the time of purchase from our online shop.
What is the 5-Gallon Finish Cask?
A private cask of UK malt spirit, matured for two and a half years in a 2nd-fill ex-bourbon cask, then transferred, filled to the brim, into a new American oak 5-gallon cask (approx. 19L) for a six-month finish. It is bottled in Q3 2030 and delivered under the standard private cask label printed with your name to an address in Japan (excluding Okinawa). No consultation or contract is needed: it will be sold directly through our online shop, coming soon.
Why not mature in the 5-gallon cask from the start?
Small casks give the spirit more wood contact relative to their contents, so the angel's share is larger and the whisky is more prone to over-oaking, where the wood's influence becomes excessive. So the spirit spends its first two and a half years in a full-size ex-bourbon cask, and the distillery absorbs the evaporation during that time. At two and a half years it is filled to the brim into the 5-gallon cask, where it spends only its final six months. The only evaporation you bear is from those six months.
Can the 5-Gallon Finish Cask be delivered overseas or to Okinawa?
At present, delivery is limited to addresses in Japan, excluding Okinawa. Please enter the delivery address when ordering.
Can I share a cask with others?
Yes. Two or more people may purchase a private cask together. One is named as the representative for all communications and instructions. All share the entitlement and bear joint responsibility. Details are available during consultation.
What happens if my cask develops a leak?
Leakage is handled under the terms of your cask agreement. Natural evaporation (the angel's share of approximately 5% per year) is part of maturation.
Can the cask entitlement be passed on to heirs?
Yes. In the event of the holder's passing, the entitlement transfers to their legal heir(s) or beneficiary(ies) with the administration fee waived. Appropriate legal documentation is all that is required.
Is a private cask a financial product?
No. A private cask is an entitlement to the whisky matured in one specific cask, not the cask itself, and it is not a financial product. What it offers is a whisky of your own, matured in Higashikawa's climate: you choose the cask type, follow its maturation, decide the bottling style and design the label. The entitlement can be transferred or passed on to family, and the bottled whisky may be kept or given. Selling it requires a liquor licence.
Can I bottle and sell my whisky commercially?
Yes. Once bottled, the whisky is yours to keep, gift, or sell. You may bottle under your own label for retail, hospitality, or corporate gifting. We offer custom label printing and bespoke packaging to support commercial use. Please note that retail sale of alcohol requires appropriate licensing in most jurisdictions.
Why choose a Hokkaido cask over other regions?
Hokkaido's wide seasonal swing — around -20°C in winter to around 30°C in summer — keeps the spirit working with the wood. With Daisetsuzan spring water and access to Japanese Mizunara oak, Higashikawa offers a distinctive place to mature whisky.

Past programme (2026, discontinued)

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Prefer email? Reach us at info@tankyudistillery.jp

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