Introducing Shindo Japanese whisky with founder Michiaki Shinozaki

We welcome Michiaki Shinozaki to Whisky & Alement on his first official visit to Australia with whisky brand Shindo. Mr. Shinozaki has spent much of his life in the distilling industry before making the shift to single malt whisky and the construction of Shindo in 2021. Beginning at the 8th generation owned Shinzato distillery, which has been producing shochu, sake, amazake and gin for centuries, the company has been inching in the direction of single malt whisky for longer than most of us would guess. Shinzato distillery began making whisky with barley converted by koji, before taking the leap and opening dedicated single malt whisky distillery, Shindo in 2021. 

Harking from Fukuoka on the southern island of Kyushu, this distillery sits in a dynamic climate, with warm and humid summers and cool winters that impact maturation greatly. Shindo whiskies are produced using un-peated malts 11 months of the year and peated malts for 1 month. Casks filled range from ex-Bourbon to Mizunara and even ex-natural wine casks from New Zealand. Stefan Van Eycken, author of Whisky Rising and authority on Japanese whisky writes that "every element at Shindo distillery is tweaked to a degree not often seen at other distilleries." We are in for a treat when we meet Michiaki Shinozaki! 

On Tasting:

• 15ml x Shindo "The blended 2026" Asakura and Shindo 46%
• 15ml x Shindo "Experimental 02" Single malt, matured in ex-bourbon, sherry and brandy casks 48%
• 15ml x Shindo "Experimental for Cores .02" Lightly peated, ex-bourbon, mizunara, cognac, oloroso casks 48% 
• 15ml x Shindo Single Mizunara cask #10759 For Antelope bar, 63%
• 15ml x Shindo Peated Single Mizunara cask #10759-2 For Antelope bar, 63%
• 15ml x Shindo Peated Single Rum cask #10384 For AF Trade 64%

When? Where?

Sunday 20th of September 2026

Doors open at 1:45pm for a 2pm start

Whisky & Alement, 270 Russell Street, Melbourne 

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Changes & Cancellations

Please refer to the FAQ's page on our website for full details about change of date and cancellations.

Change of date is available with a minimum of 7 days notice. 

No cancellations or refunds for any product. Tickets can be gifted to friends or family without notifying the venue.

Disabled Access

Disabled Access is available on the ground level, but is not available for our tasting room. Please contact us before booking and we'll do our best to accommodate.

Other T&C's

All participants must be over the legal age of 18 years in order to participate and consume alcohol.

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