Y.A. Blended Malt Japanese Whisky "Umai!! 72 Tsuchiya x Honbo Memorial Bottle" to be Sold Exclusively to Whisky Culture Research Institute Members on Online Shop!

Whisky Culture Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Mamoru Tsuchiya) will begin selling the special collaboration bottle "Umai!! 72 Tsuchiya x Honbo Memorial Bottle," commemorating the 72nd birthdays of the institute's representative, Mamoru Tsuchiya, and Honbo Shuzo Co., Ltd. President Kazuto Honbo, on its official online shop starting July 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM, exclusively for Whisky Culture Research Institute members.

Sales Outline

Sales Period: Starting July 8, 2026, 12:00 PM

Sales Price: 17,600 yen (tax included, shipping not included)

Number of Bottles: 50 bottles

Quantity Limit: One bottle per person

Sales Condition: Must be a member of the Whisky Culture Research Institute

A Special Cask Aged in Yakushima Prepared!!

Whisky Culture Research Institute has created a special collaboration bottle to commemorate the 72nd birthdays of the institute's representative, Mamoru Tsuchiya, and Honbo Shuzo Co., Ltd. President Kazuto Honbo. Mr. Tsuchiya and Mr. Honbo were born in the same year, February 1954, and their birthdays are only one day apart. This collaboration has been realized this year, their sixth Year of the Dragon. With the full cooperation of Honbo Shuzo Co., Ltd., a special cask aged in Yakushima has been prepared. Unlike the regular "Y.A.," this is a single cask where the original spirits from Mars Komagatake and Mars Tsunuki were blended and then finished in a new Mizunara oak cask. The labels feature photos of Mr. Tsuchiya and Mr. Honbo from their student days.

Product Outline

Product Name: Y.A. Blended Malt Japanese Whisky "Umai!! 72 Tsuchiya x Honbo Memorial Bottle"

Alcohol Content: 50%

Volume: 700ml

Cask Type: New Mizunara Cask Finish

Total Bottles: 246 bottles

Price: 17,600 yen (tax included)

Labels: The label for Mr. Tsuchiya is a photo taken during his travels in Zanskar, Western Tibet. The label for Mr. Honbo features a photo from when he was a member of the insect research club and enjoyed mountain hiking.

Product Details

Komagatake lightly peated original spirit and Tsunuki non-peated original spirit were each aged in bourbon barrels for approximately 4 years, then blended and further matured in a new Mizunara oak cask for an additional 3 years.

Blender Tasting Comments

Aroma

Calm nuances of incense wood and cocoa are layered with the light sweetness of vanilla wafers. In the background, a citrusy bitterness reminiscent of marmalade jam spreads.

Flavor

A moist richness reminiscent of ripe raspberries, beeswax, and orange peel unfolds.

Finish

It continues gently with a calm sweetness and body.

Kazuto Honbo Profile

President, Honbo Shuzo Co., Ltd.

1954 Born in Minamisatsuma City, Kagetsuchi. 1977 Joined Minami Kyushu Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Ltd. 1978 Seconded to Piratininga Agro Ltda. in Brazil from the overseas business department of the same company. 1980 Joined Honbo Shuzo Co., Ltd. Worked at Mars Yamanashi Winery, Mars Komagatake Distillery, Tokyo Branch, etc. 2003 Senior Managing Director 2007 Representative Director and Senior Managing Director 2013 Representative Director and President Present. Director of the Japan Western Liquor Brewers Association, Certified Sommelier of the Japan Sommelier Association.

About Whisky Culture Research Institute

Whisky Culture Research Institute is an organization dedicated to the promotion of whisky culture, headed by whisky critic Mamoru Tsuchiya. Since its establishment in March 2001, the institute has conducted in-depth research to learn about whisky and alcoholic beverage culture both domestically and internationally, collecting and disseminating information. In collaboration with industry professionals, it has also planned and implemented initiatives aimed at fostering whisky enthusiasts and consumers, and promoting whisky culture.

The institute plans and operates Japan's only whisky specialty magazine, "Whisky Galore," and events such as the Whisky Festival. It also organizes the "Whisky Connoisseur Qualification Examination," a certification system that tests knowledge and appraisal skills related to whisky, and the "Whisky Kentei" (Whisky Examination), which tests knowledge for enjoying whisky. Furthermore, since 2019, it has operated the "Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC)," Japan's only competition for judging world whiskies and spirits.

【Company Profile】

Company Name: Whisky Culture Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Head Office Location: Tech Hiroo Bldg. 5F, 1-10-5 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012

Representative Director: Mamoru Tsuchiya

Business Activities: Editing and publishing of Whisky Galore / Editing and publishing of textbooks for the Whisky Connoisseur Qualification Examination / Writing and supervising whisky-related books / Planning and operation of Whisky Festival / Planning and operation of Whisky Connoisseur Qualification Examination / Operation of Whisky Kentei / Operation of Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) / Consulting services including advice and technical guidance on whisky production.

Established: March 2001

HP: https://scotchclub.org/

Profile of Mamoru Tsuchiya, Representative of Whisky Culture Research Institute

Born in Sado, Niigata Prefecture in 1954. Graduated from Gakushuin University, Faculty of Letters. Belonged to the exploration club during his university days and made four expeditions to the Ladakh-Zanskar region of Western Tibet from 1975 to 1981. After working as a weekly magazine journalist, he moved to the UK in 1987. He encountered single malt Scotch for the first time in Scotland during an interview and became engrossed in Scotch. Upon returning to Japan, he became active as a whisky critic and was selected as one of the "Five World Whisky Writers" by Highland Distillers in 1998. He served as a supervisor for whisky research in the NHK morning drama "Massan," which aired from September 2014 to March 2015.

He has authored numerous books, including "Single Malt Scotch Taizen," "Blended Whisky Taizen" (Shogakukan), "Masataka Taketsuru and Whisky" (Tokyo Shoseki), "Whisky Kanzen Bible" (Natsume Publishing), "Business Kyoyo to Shite no Whisky: Naze Ima, Koyu Whisky ga 2 Okuen de Urareru no ka" (KADOKAWA), and "Business ni Kiku Kyoyo to Shite no Japanese Whisky" (Shodensha). His recent works include "Kanzenban Single Malt Scotch Taizen" (Shogakukan), "Mamoru Tsuchiya no Whisky Senya Ichiya (Volumes 1-5)," and "Japanese Whisky Yearbook" (Whisky Culture Research Institute).

He serves as the editor-in-chief of the bimonthly magazine "Whisky Galore," as well as the chairman of the TWSC and Japanese Whisky Day executive committees, and the representative director of the Japan Association for the Promotion of Japanese Whisky Culture.