［Food & Beverages domain］
From Mercian's Shochu Distillery YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA: Craft Gin YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA YATSU BOSHI and Overseas Shochu Brand YATSU to Launch in the U.S. and Thailand Starting January 2026.
- Products and Services
November 28, 2025
Mercian Corporation
TOKYO, November 28, 2025 - Mercian Corporation (Mercian) will launch sales in the United States and Thailand starting January 2026 of the craft gin YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA YATSU BOSHI Precious Citrus Gin (YATSU BOSHI) and the overseas shochu brand YATSU, both from its YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA distillery—a ‘Shochu Distillery of Tradition and Innovation’ that fuses the heritage of shochu-making with expertise in winemaking.
In recent years, the global gin market has increasingly recognized Japanese unique ingredients and production methods, driving the expansion of Japanese gin exports*1. Furthermore, Japanese traditional distilling techniques, including those used for shochu, have attracted worldwide attention and were registered as a UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2024. Mercian has previously expanded exports of distilled spirits, including craft gin and shochu, to countries such as Australia, South Korea, and Malaysia. To further accelerate the growth of its distilled spirits export business, Mercian has decided to launch YATSU BOSHI and YATSU in two key markets: the United States, the world's largest spirits market*2 and Thailand, where demand for Japanese distilled spirits is rising alongside the spread of Japanese cuisine.
*1 IWSR 2020-2024
*2 IWSR 2024
YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA combines the abundant natural environment of Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture with the craftmanship of its master distillers to create spirits that blends tradition and innovation. The craft-gin YATSU BOSHI, now launching, is a Japanese-style craft gin that applies shochu distillation techniques to maximize the appeal of Kumamoto-grown Japanese citrus fruits*3. Additionally, YATSU is a brand launched in 2025 for overseas customers, offering a new shochu series that combines innovation and tradition, using carefully selected natural ingredients from Japan.
*3 Aoyuzu, Shiranui,Banpeiyu
Through gin, a familiar spirit to international customers, we aim to showcase the appeal of YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA, which leverages Japanese tradition and craftsmanship. By also encouraging them to try shochu, we seek to spread the charm of Japan's "traditional brewing" in the global market and enhance brand value. We also contribute to revitalizing Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
The Kirin Group contributes to realizing a spiritually rich society by spreading new joys in "food and health" through manufacturing that respects nature and people.
About YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA YATSU BOSHI Precious Citrus Gin
・It uses three Kumamoto-grown citrus varieties—Aoyuzu, Shiranui, and Banpeiyu—which are considered rare from an international perspective.
・By deliberately limiting the ingredients to these three Japanese citrus varieties, we bring out the inherent charm of each fruit.
・Distilled using methods based on shochu-making expertise to bring out the best qualities of each fruit, achieving a refreshing yet complex flavor that embodies the essence of Japan.
Product Overview
| 1．Product Name & Alcohol Content | YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA YATSU BOSHI Precious Citrus Gin |
|---|---|
| 2．Volume/Container | 700ml Bottle |
| 3．Category Classification | Spirits 43% |
| 4．Release Date & Region | January 2026 - United States, Thailand |
| 5．Price | Open Price |
About YATSU
YATSU Rice
A rice shochu characterized by a refined balance of rich aroma and refreshing clarity, featuring an elegant ginjo fragrance.
YATSU Black Sesame
A black sesame shochu offering a “toasty aroma” and a “clean, crisp finish.”
YATSU Sweet Potato
A sweet potato shochu with a smooth texture and sweet aromas reminiscent of mango, jasmine, honey, and sweet potato itself, delivering a full-bodied sweetness derived from the ingredient.
YATSU Barley
A barley shochu with notes of roasted grain, honey, and nuts, offering a smooth, rounded mouthfeel and a pleasant, lingering finish.
Product Overview
| 1．Product Name & Alcohol Content |
①YATSU Rice ②YATSU Black Sesame ③YATSU Sweet Potato ④YATSU Barley |
|---|---|
| 2．Volume/Container | 720ml・Bottle |
| 3．Category Classification |
①Spirits 39% ②Spirits 25% ③Spirits 30% ④Spirits 39% |
| 4．Release Date & Location | January 2026 - United States, Thailand |
| 5．Price | Open Price |
About Mercian's Shochu distillery YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA
Mercian YATSUSHIRO DISTILLERY began operations in 1939 as a production base and has been manufacturing full-bodied shochu since 1963.
With the aspiration to be the representative brewery of the local area, the production facility was named YATSUSHIRO SHIRANUIGURA Committed to crafting truly unique shochu, its flavor has earned recognition worldwide.
