SŌMEI
Mountain Whisky — Kiso Valley, Nagano
宗
宗明蒸溜所。創業大正十二年
Mountain Whisky — Kiso Valley, Nagano
Origin / 源流
Snow falls on the Kiso range and disappears into granite. Forty years later it emerges below our stillhouse — soft, cold and impossibly clear. Every drop of SŌMEI begins as snow that fell before our distillers were born.
CH. 02 — Time / 時
In the dark of our warehouses, 10,412 casks are sleeping. We do not make whisky. We make time — and wait.
In 1923, founder Sou Akiyama followed a red-crowned crane up the valley in search of water. Where it landed, he built the stillhouse — and the crane has marked every bottle since. Scroll, and walk the century.
The first stillhouse rises beside the granite spring, three roof-beams cut from the surrounding cedar forest. The crane lands where the water breaks the stone.
The first 18-year cask is drawn in absolute silence — 240 numbered bottles, each sealed by hand in vermilion wax.
The distillery begins coopering its own mizunara oak, felled in the upper forest and seasoned through five winters before it may hold a single drop.
One hundred years of mist, snow water and patience. The crane still crosses the valley each spring — and still marks every bottle.
Now viewing — SŌMEI 18 — Snow 雪
Hover an expression to view its bottle. Allocations open quarterly.
Each bottle is numbered, sealed in wax and signed by the master blender.
The distillery opens its doors four days a week. Come up the valley road, drink tea by the kiln, and taste whisky drawn straight from the sleeping casks.
90 min · Stillhouse, kiln & warehouse No.1 · Thu–Sun, 10:00 & 14:00
60 min · Five expressions incl. cask strength · Reservations essential
Half day · Blending session with the master blender · Max 8 guests
4-7 Kakehashi, Kiso Valley, Nagano 399-5607, Japan
+81 264 55 0123 · welcome@somei.jp
