Ohishi: Japanese Whisky Made From Rice, Not Barley

We like introducing guests to spirits they haven't tried before, and Ohishi Whisky is one of the good ones, a rice-based whisky from Kumamoto Prefecture that borrows sake-making technique and Scottish whisky tradition. We pour both the Islay Cask and Sherry Cask expressions.

The Story Behind Ohishi Whisky

Ohishi Distillery was founded in 1872 and built its name on rice shochu. It sits along the Kuma River, where the water and the humid climate are good for aging whisky. Unlike most Japanese whisky, which is barley-based, Ohishi is made from Gohyakumangoku and mochi rice, which gives it a softer, silkier texture and a different flavor profile.

Ohishi Whisky's Distillation and Aging Process

Ohishi is distilled in pot stills like a traditional whisky, but the rice base is what sets the character. It's then aged in a mix of casks, ex-sherry, bourbon, even Islay whisky barrels, which is where the two expressions we pour come from.

Ohishi Whisky Expressions at Izakaya Juraku

Ohishi Islay Cask Whisky

• Aged in ex-Islay Scotch whisky barrels, so it picks up peat and smoke
• Notes of toasted oak, sea salt, vanilla, and a smoky finish
• Rice whisky's softness meets Islay's boldness: worth trying if you already know Islay Scotch

Ohishi Sherry Cask Whisky

• Aged in ex-Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, which bring sweetness and depth
• Notes of dried fruit, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and caramelized sugar
• Smooth, velvety texture: good if you already like sherry-aged whisky

How to Enjoy Ohishi Whisky at Izakaya Juraku

• Neat or on the rocks, to taste the rice character directly
• As a mizuwari highball, for something lighter
• Alongside grilled dishes, tempura, or sushi: it's soft enough not to overpower any of them

Ohishi is on the whisky list. Ask for the Islay Cask if you want smoke and the Sherry Cask if you want richness. Either way you are drinking a whisky made from rice by a house that spent its first century making shochu, which is the part worth thinking about while you drink it.