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Chivas combines sake and whisky in new Masuizumi brewery collab
Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers has launched a new spirit which combines blended Scotch whisky and Japanese sake, created specifically for Asian markets.
Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve is a 12-year-old spirit made by combining Scotch whisky with Japanese sake.
The new release is a collaboration between Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky arm of drinks giant Pernod Ricard, and Masuizumi, a sake brewery in Toyama, Japan.
Chivas Regal first joined forces with Masuizumi 2018, when Pernod Ricard Japan partnered with the distillery to launch Link 8888, a premium sake aged in ex-Chivas Regal American oak barrels.
Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve reuses some of the materials used to make Link 8888. After the ex-Chivas Regal barrels used to make the sake were returned to Scotland, a portion of Chivas Regal whisky was finished in these casks which previously held Link 8888.
The final liquid is now being released to Asian markets. Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve is available to purchase in Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and Cambodia from September 2024.
Sandy Hyslop, director of blending at Chivas, commented: “Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve represents new territory for Chivas, pushing the boundaries of craftsmanship to deliver a coveted spirit drink that blends the rich heritage of Scotch whisky with the diverse, internationally inspired palette of flavours found in premium sake. Chivas Regal Takumi Reserve is more than a spirit drink; it’s a symbol of the power of collaboration and shared values, inviting enthusiasts to experience the magic born from the unity of tradition and innovation.”
This collaboration may have been designed for Asian markets, but sake as a category is gaining traction further afield.
The total volume of sake exports from Japan has almost doubled since 2014, rising from 16.3m litres to 29.1m in 2023, having hit a peak of 35.9m litres in 2022, according to trade body the Japanese Sake & Shochu Makers Association. Read more about its rising popularity in the UK here.
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