Inquire about purchasing your Gakkogawa Whisky cask today
Gakkogawa is a young and dynamic distillery on Japan's rugged west coast, where whisky-making is approached with precision, experimentation and balance.
Built by one of Japan’s oldest and most respected sake families, Gakkogawa’s made in Shonai spirit represents a bold new chapter in Japanese whisky.
As their global partner, we’re proud to offer you the exclusive opportunity to own one of their limited casks.
月光川のルーツ
Gakkogawa’s roots
Gakkogawa was founded by Junpei Sato-san – a lifelong sake maker with a dream to extend his family’s legacy into something new. With roots in two of Japan’s most respected sake houses, Tatenokawa Shuzo and Owajiman, Sato-san grew up dedicated to the tradition of brewing and distilling.
But it was his love for whisky that inspired his next step. Gakkogawa Distillery is where that vision came to life - a place that honours generations of craft while embracing fresh ideas. A new chapter for the Sato family and an exciting addition to the story of Japanese whisky.
チームワークと成長の推進
Championing teamwork & growth
When building Gakkogawa, Sato-san set out to do things differently. Rather than shaping people to fit a company, he believes in creating a springboard where individuals can inspire, collaborate and bring their own values to the table.
That ethos runs through everything – from how the team works to how the whisky is made. Ideas are welcomed, decisions are shared and every detail is considered together. It's a special kind of team spirit that values horizontal connections as much as vertical relationships. It's something you feel from the moment you enter.
大きな革新と限られた生産
Big innovations & limited production
A small distillery producing just 400 casks annually, Gakkogawa is only releasing 36 exclusively to private cask owners through dekantā. Their whisky is primarily matured in new and used bourbon barrels, with additional spirit laid down in Sherry, red wine, and specially crafted sake-seasoned Mizunara casks.
They then store the casks in their state-of-the-art onsite warehouse, where they have cleverly improved maturation by excavating streams of natural spring water that run through the warehouse floor, raising humidity and reducing the angel share.
全ての樽がコラボレーション
Every cask a collaboration
At Gakkogawa, whisky-making is a daily ritual - and a team effort through and through. Each morning begins with conversation, collaboration and a clear focus on growth.
The distillery’s house style is defined as clean, elegant, and balanced, with a signature fruitiness. Led by Sato-san, the team continually experiments with new malts, yeasts, and techniques in pursuit of the perfect flavour profile.
A key contributor to their success is the use of ultra-soft Chokaisan subsoil water. Renowned as some of the purest in Japan and a vital ingredient in their whisky.
カッティングに対するユニークなアプローチ
A unique approach to cutting
One area where Gakkogawa truly stands out is in its approach to cutting, the process of selecting the heart of the distillate for maturation. Rather than relying on a single decision-maker, the team tastes the spirit together and agrees on the ideal cut.
This unique approach ensures that the new make produced at Gakkogawa is smooth, fruity, balanced and perfect for maturation, while also allowing the team members to advance their knowledge and learnings through passionate team discussions.
日本酒の伝説、受賞歴のあるウイスキー
Legends of sake, award-winning whisky
Sato San’s sake businesses, Tatenokawa Shuzo and Owujiman, are widely regarded as some of the very best in Japan, thanks to a range of careful processes built around precision and mastered over several hundred years.
From a rice polishing process that achieves a 1% RPR (Rice Polishing Ratio), to utilising the ultra-soft Chokaisan water, they have redefined the boundaries of sake craftsmanship.
By carrying these expertise and a desire to innovate to the whisky world, they won silver at the World Whisky awards for their 2024 Newpot - a sign of the distillery's potential.
Cask owners are invited to be part of the journey – from visiting the distillery and sampling spirit alongside the team, to bottling their whisky when the time is right. It’s a hands-on, heart-led experience that celebrates craft, creativity and connection.
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