Shinshu

Shinshu is a Japanese malt whisky distillery, founded by Hombo Shuzo Co in 1985. It was the company's third distillery operation since 1960 and it uses the original pot stills designed by Kiichiro Iwai for the first of them, inspired by designs presented to him by none other than Nikka founder, Masataka Taketsuru. Its initial operational stint was only brief however, and the distillery was shut down in 1992 after just seven years.

A growing interest in the Mars blends produced by Hombo Shuzo in the 21st century soon inspired the company to re-open Shinshu in 2010, and after a period of restoration and repairs it was online again in 2011. Today its single malt is bottled under the Komagatake brand name.