Hinotori 5 Year Blended Japanese Whisky
Hinotori 5 Year Blended Japanese Whisky is a 40% ABV (80-proof), 750mL blended Japanese whisky — the five-year-old expression of the phoenix brand from the revived Hekinan Distillery in Aichi, Japan. It blends malt and grain whisky aged five years in oak casks, and it is non-chill filtered. Order online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof) — US-market release; verify bottle
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 5 Year Old
- Origin: Hekinan Distillery, Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan (AIOI UNIBIO Co., Ltd.)
- Production: Blend of malt and grain whisky, five years in oak casks, non-chill filtered
The Phoenix of Hekinan
Hinotori means "phoenix" — and the name is the story. Hekinan Distillery was founded in 1949, then lost to typhoons in the 1950s; whisky distillation only restarted in 2019, on the seventieth anniversary of the first distillation, with the Hinotori brand launched alongside French spirits house BBC Spirits as the symbol of the revival. Among Japanese whiskies, this is one of the youngest distillery-revival stories in the bottle: a malt-and-grain blend from a distillery that rose from its own ashes.
Tasting Notes
Vanilla and orchard fruit on the nose with gentle oak. The palate is soft and rounded — honeyed malt, pear and light caramel — and the non-chill filtration keeps the texture silky through a clean, easy finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat to appreciate the revival-distillery character, or in a Japanese highball with soda and a twist of lemon. It also works as a mellow, easy-drinking base for a whisky sour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hinotori mean?
"Phoenix" — named for the Hekinan Distillery's phoenix-like revival after whisky production stopped in the 1950s and restarted in 2019.
Who makes Hinotori whisky?
Hekinan Distillery in Hekinan City, Aichi, Japan, owned by AIOI UNIBIO Co., Ltd. — founded 1949, distilling again since 2019.
Is Hinotori chill-filtered?
No — it is non-chill filtered, per multiple export listings.
Where can I buy Hinotori 5 Year Whisky online?
This 750mL bottle is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor — it ships from San Diego, CA.
Taste the phoenix's return — order Hinotori 5 Year Blended Japanese Whisky online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.