About this Event
Join us for an Ohishi Japanese whisky tasting presented by JVS Imports President Sam Filmus, Impex Beverages Vice President Chris Udhe, & Oishi's Master Distiller Kazunori Ohishi! We'll have a variety of whiskies to try and special event-exclusive discounts on bottles purchased towards the tasting.
Pourlist:
Ohishi is the closest distillery to the source of the Kuma River, a river reknowned for its superior water quality. Blessed with fertile soil and clear underground water, Ohishi Distillery produces it’s own rice for use in their whiskies, with traditionally organic methods - koi fish are employed to keep the rice fields free of weeds. With about 1200 Sherry and Brandy casks, Ohishi Distillery puts a lot of effort into maturing its products over a long period of time, transforming their locally produced rice liquor into Our special guest, Kazunori Oishi, is the sixth-generation Master Distiller and head of the historic Ohishi Distillery in Kumamoto, Japan. Founded in 1872 near the village of Mizukami, the family-owned distillery sits close to the headwaters of the pristine Kuma River and has been producing traditional Japanese spirits for more than 150 years.
During Kazunori’s tenure, Ohishi Distillery has undergone two major expansions, building upon generations of expertise while embracing a new era of Japanese spirits. Under his leadership, the family has expanded its whisky-making traditions with Ohishi Koji Whisky, produced from locally grown rice using traditional koji fermentation, alongside the development of Mizukami Single Malt Whisky.
Kazunori has become known for combining traditional Japanese distilling techniques with an innovative approach to maturation. Ohishi spirits have been matured and finished in an unusually diverse range of casks, including ex-Sherry, Brandy, Port, Islay Scotch, and Japanese Sakura, creating distinctive expressions that reflect both the heritage and experimental spirit of the distillery.
Today, Kazunori travels extensively around the world representing Ohishi Distillery and Japanese spirits. Through tastings, seminars, and educational events. He shares his family’s six generations of distilling knowledge while introducing audiences to the traditions of koji fermentation, rice distillation, and the evolving world of Japanese whisky.
As ImpEx Beverages’ Vice President, Chris Udhe has proven to be gifted in sales, marketing, and business operations by managing the needs of exclusive specialty accounts up to large scale region-wide programs. In addition to his role at ImpEx, Chris is Whisky Expert for the United Scottish Society of Southern California.
Chris is responsible for blending whiskies for the US for many of our brands from Japan. He is also responsible for the Rum and Mezcal selections you’ll find in The ImpEx Collection.
You can find Chris traveling throughout the country educating retailers, bartenders, and consumers about the process of making and drinking fine spirits with his infectious style and passion.
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Event venue & nearby stays
The Whisky Shop, 360 Sutter Street, San Francisco, United States
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