Kuju Distillery: Oita History, The First, Green Dram and Visits
Kuju Distillery is a Japanese whisky producer in Taketa, Oita Prefecture. Its story centres on adapting a former sake-brewery site and developing malt spirit with copper pot stills and wooden fermentation vessels.
Its two best-documented whisky identities need careful separation: The First is Kuju single malt, whereas Green Dram is a blended malt with imported components. Those names must not become interchangeable entries in a whisky library.
Kuju Distillery at a glance
Key fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location | Kuju-machi, Taketa, Oita, Japan |
Founder | Shoji Utoda |
Site acquisition | Former sake-brewery premises acquired in 2018 |
Whisky licence | January 2021 |
First distillation | 27 February 2021 |
Single malt | Kuju The First, 58% ABV |
Blended malt | Green Dram, 46% ABV |
Visits | Check the shop calendar; guided access requires confirmation |
Research checked 26 October 2026. Visitor schedules, release plans and availability may change.
In this guide
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Kuju Distillery: history and development
Founder Shoji Utoda's interest in whisky developed through the family's drinks-retailing background and his own experience. In 2018 the project acquired premises associated with the former Kobayakawa sake brewery.
The licence followed in January 2021, and the producer records the first distillation on 27 February. This chronology distinguishes the purchase and preparation of a site from the moment whisky spirit actually began to flow.
People, ownership and identity
Kuju's own story presents a founder-led regional project rather than an extension of a famous Scottish distillery. Its imported equipment and some imported ingredients do not change the location of its own distillation.
The brand also sells a blended malt. That activity is legitimate, but the catalogue must disclose the distinction between Kuju-distilled single malt and a blend containing whisky from elsewhere.
How the whisky is made
The official distillery description lists Forsyths pot stills of 2,500 and 1,800 litres, five wooden washbacks and fermentation lasting around four days. Steam heating and shell-and-tube condensation feature in the production account.
The producer describes using mainly imported malt, with a smaller locally contracted component. Those figures explain its material sourcing; they are not proof of a permanently fixed recipe for every future release.
Whisky range and release identities
The following entries describe documented releases or, where explicitly stated, an announced future whisky. They are not claims of current stock or independent Whisky Clan tasting scores.
Key fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Kuju The First Single Malt Japanese Whisky | The producer lists 58% ABV and 700 ml. Bourbon, refill and sherry casks are described for the inaugural single malt. |
Green Dram Blended Malt Whisky | A 46% ABV, 700 ml blended malt involving imported malt whisky and locally made spirit with further maturation. |
Kuju The First Single Malt Japanese Whisky
Release milestones and recognition
The appearance of an own-distilled single malt is a different milestone from releasing a blended malt while stocks develop. This guide records the documented identities without turning first-production dates into calculated bottle ages.
Future cask and vintage releases should be checked individually. A single strength for The First should not be inherited automatically by every subsequent Kuju bottle.
Visiting and current practical information
The official address is 6426 Kuju, Kuju-machi, Taketa, Oita 878-0201. The producer publishes shop information and a calendar, but guided distillery access should be confirmed directly rather than assumed from the existence of a retail area.
Rural travel arrangements and seasonal opening can change. Use the current Japanese-language visitor information when planning a journey, especially where older English summaries still describe tours as being prepared.
Explore more Whisky Clan distillery guides
These guides offer regional and stylistic comparisons. They are not all nearby stops on a single-day itinerary; check distances and current visitor arrangements separately.
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Frequently asked questions
When did Kuju first distil?
The producer records 27 February 2021, following its January 2021 licence.
Is Green Dram Kuju single malt?
No. It is a blended malt with imported components, distinct from Kuju The First.
What is the strength of The First?
The producer's documented presentation is 58% ABV in a 700 ml bottle.
Can I walk into a production tour?
Do not assume so. Check the current shop calendar and confirm guided access with the distillery.
Sources and photograph credits
The links below support the history, production and expression-specific details. Checked on 26 October 2026. Product pages do not by themselves establish current stock, legal image permissions or an independent review.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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