The grandson of the founder of the Hanyu Distillery, established a new company called Venture Whisky to again produce single malt whisky.

Ichiro Akuto is in the middle of preparations to establish a new whisky distillery and has also starting re-racking and bottling some of the stock held at Sasanokawa Shuzo. The venture has been well supported leading to the launch of “Ichiro’s Malt” in April 2005.

Akuto-san has started to gather together the pot stills, a mill and washbacks needed to start production again. He has travelled to Jerez in Spain to choose casks and visit cooperages and Bodegas.

In Japan he has asked one of the most experienced coopers, Mr. Mitsuo Saito, to make Japanese Oak and American Oak casks for him. The new distillery will emphasise traditional skills and craftsmanship and operate on a small scale in terms of production.