Ever since that shocking encounter at an event, I had been searching everywhere for a bottle of Kameda Whisky, only to find it “out of stock” at every turn.
Driven by this obsession, I finally visited its birthplace in Niigata, only to discover that it wasn’t just a distillery—it was an experimental “laboratory” of infinite possibilities.
A House Style in the Making “We don’t have a house style yet; we are just getting started,” President Dota told me.
Currently, Kameda is intentionally releasing spirits with vastly different characters to show the world the breadth of what they can achieve.
Their maturation warehouse is a testament to this challenge.
Along with standard bourbon barrels, I saw Mizunara, French Oak, Spanish Oak, and even barrels that once held rum, wine, or wild cherry.
They even use refill barrels from Mars (Honbo Shuzo), valuing the connections (En) they share with other Japanese distilleries.
The Shock of the Maple Syrup Cask What truly blew me away was a barrel that once held Canadian maple syrup after maturing bourbon.
President Dota dared to fill this rare cask with peated spirit.
The result? A unique, one-of-a-kind alchemy where sweet aromas and intense smokiness coexist in a complex punch.
Their visual management is also meticulous, using color-coded barrel heads inspired by the Kilchoman Distillery to track the number of fills at a glance.
Maturation in a Historic “Stone Storehouse” The most surprising part of the visit was the maturation environment.
One of their warehouses is a former JA (Agricultural Cooperative) low-temperature stone storehouse originally used for rice.
This sturdy, temperature-controlled environment is perfect for slowly nurturing whisky.
The opportunity to use this historic space arose from Kameda’s deep roots in the community—specifically, their collaboration with local farmers to grow “Yukihana Rokujo” barley.
It is a story of local trust becoming a vital ingredient in their whisky.
As a “Japanese Whisky Expert” who once could barely drink alcohol, I know that my encounter with Kameda was never a coincidence.
It was a “Hitsuzen” (Inevitability)—a destined connection that I feel compelled to share with the world now, while this treasure is still a secret to many.
At Bar Little Happiness in Hiroshima, let us share the “experimental” soul of Niigata. Your “destined glass” is waiting to tell you its story.
↓Deep Dive into the Story: For those who wish to explore the full, detailed history and my personal reflections on this distillery, please visit our original column here (Japanese): (You can use the language switcher at the top of our site to translate the page into your preferred language.)↓
出逢いは必然。Rum&Whiskyの世界へようこそ。 (An encounter is inevitable. Welcome to the world of Rum & Whisky.)
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• Multilingual Menu: Available in 8 languages
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• Cover Charge: No cover charge
• Atmosphere: Quiet / No smoking (Electronic cigarettes allowed) / Solo & Small groups welcome
Visit Us in Hiroshima
We welcome guests from all over the world with our 8-language menu and a massive collection of over 1,000 whiskies.
Explore our vast range of Japanese labels, featuring an unrivaled selection of local Hiroshima craft whiskies, alongside an extensive array of fine Scotches.
No matter where you are from, your “destined glass” is waiting.
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(Dive deep into the world of whisky and rum. This site can be translated into English or Korean using the language switcher tab at the top of the page.)
