The Japanese Hishida and Nagahama Reveal Their First Japanese Whisky Collaboration

Thursday, 08 January 2026 at 08:35

In Japan, the new whisky year kicks off with a standout collaboration. For the first time, Hishida Distillery and Nagahama Distillery are joining forces to release a shared whisky. The Japanese distilleries have unveiled the Hishida × Nagahama Synergy Blend.

This new release marks a historic moment for both distilleries. It’s the first time they’ve partnered with another producer. The goal was to craft something truly flavorful for whisky lovers, blending signature elements from both houses.

What is the Hishida × Nagahama Synergy Blend?

For this whisky, Hishida and Nagahama shared know-how and exchanged casks and spirits. Hishida supplied a matured grain whisky to Nagahama, which then conducted numerous blending trials.

In turn, Yusuku Yaku, chief blender at Nagahama Distillery, sent a malt whisky to Hishida for an in-depth evaluation. Ultimately, the two whiskies were married into one harmonious whole.

The blend is composed of roughly 80% of Nagahama’s internationally acclaimed malt whisky, with the remainder drawn from Hishida’s robust grain whisky.

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What are the tasting notes for the Hishida × Nagahama Synergy Blend?

Thanks to its unique composition, the whisky presents a complex profile where both distilleries’ signatures come through. The tasting notes are as follows:

Nose: It opens with tropical fruit, ripe banana and pineapple, clearly influenced by southern maturation. Sweet notes of strawberry and strawberry jam follow, layered with chocolate and a subtle wisp of smoke.

Palate: Full-bodied and intense. Caramel and butterscotch from new oak take the lead, while nutmeg and white pepper add refined spice. The grain whisky provides structure without overshadowing the fruit-driven character.

Finish: Long and powerful, with spicy tingles, honeyed sweetness, and lingering esters that fade slowly.

The whisky is bottled at 47% alcohol by volume (ABV).

Where can you buy the Hishida × Nagahama Synergy Japanese blended whisky?

This special blended whisky debuts on January 27, 2026, in an extremely limited run of just 500 bottles. The price is 12,000 Yen per bottle before tax. It will be sold through the distilleries themselves, and chances are slim that bottles will make it out of Japan and onto shelves elsewhere.

Read more about Japanese whisky here.

FAQ

What kind of distillery is Hishida Distillery?
Hishida Distillery is a Japanese producer best known for its robust grain whisky and experimental maturation styles.

What is Nagahama Distillery known for?
Nagahama Distillery is renowned for its artisanal approach and internationally acclaimed malt whisky with a refined, fruit-forward character.

Why is the collaboration between Hishida and Nagahama special?
It’s the first time both distilleries have collaborated, exchanging casks and whiskies to create a joint Japanese blend.