Shinzato Distillery

Shinzato Distillery – The Spirit of Kanekou

Founded in 1846 in Shuri, Shinzato Distillery is Okinawa’s oldest surviving distillery — and today, its centuries of Awamori craftsmanship are inspiring a new generation of spirits.

With Kanekou Okinawa Whisky, Shinzato brings together the character of Okinawa with the traditions of whisky making. The whisky is shaped by the island’s subtropical climate, where warmth and humidity influence maturation and help create a rich, expressive character.

What makes the whisky especially distinctive is its connection to Shinzato’s Awamori heritage. Decades of experience working with rice, koji, fermentation and maturation provide a foundation unlike that of a conventional whisky producer. Rather than simply following established whisky traditions, Shinzato is exploring what an authentically Okinawan whisky can be.

The result is a spirit with depth, warmth and a sense of place — born from one of Japan’s oldest distilling traditions, yet looking firmly toward the future.

1846 heritage. Okinawan spirit. A new whisky tradition.