Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky agrees Japanese deal for The Octave range

Aberdeenshire independent bottler Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky is expanding its presence in Japan through an exclusive distribution agreement with specialist retailer and importer Shinanoya.

The partnership will introduce specially selected releases from The Octave whisky portfolio, with an initial launch spanning 14 casks across four series. Exclusive bottlings, new packaging and smaller 200ml bottles form part of the plans.

Based in Huntly, Duncan Taylor now supplies its Octave portfolio to more than 60 countries.

Exclusive Scotch whisky bottlings for Japan

Among the releases is a 2004 Laphroaig, aged 22 years and finished in an Oloroso cask, which joins the Shinanoya Series. Its chess-themed label is a design Shinanoya reserves for its highest-tier whisky releases.

The partnership also introduces The Gambit Series, allowing bars to create their own private labels within a consistent design that identifies each release as a Shinanoya and Duncan Taylor Octave bottling.

Selected whiskies will also be available in 200ml Japan Edition bottles, giving customers a smaller format to explore the range. Duncan Taylor says this is its first introduction of bottles of this size for the mass market.

Paul Wang, International Sales Manager at Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky, said:

“This is a really important market for us, given the sheer scale and size of the Shinanoya network that they have built.”

He added that the bottlings had been curated specifically for the partnership, with label designs developed for the Japanese market.

A partnership with Shinanoya

Shinanoya began as a local food and liquor shop in 1930 and has grown into an independent retailer, importer and bottler known for its carefully selected private single-cask releases.

Its network includes specialist wine and spirits shops across Tokyo and Yokohama, with stores in Ginza and Shinjuku, alongside relationships with bars throughout Japan. The business has also received four Icons of Whisky Awards from Whisky Magazine.

Yuta Akimoto, Whisky & Spirit Head Buyer for Shinanoya, said the launch followed months of preparation, with particular attention paid to packaging featuring chess pieces and the Japanese flag.

Tokyo Whisky Festival launch

The partnership is scheduled to launch at the Tokyo Whisky Festival at the International Forum in Chiyoda-ku on 6 and 7 November 2026.

Seven bottlings from the range will be available to taste, including Shinanoya Private Bottlings of Laphroaig and Craigellachie.

The announcement follows Duncan Taylor’s recent UK release of its first Octave Mizunara oak cask finish, a triple-cask Auchentoshan that the company says sold out within two weeks.

Duncan Taylor, which employs 40 people, previously announced plans to reach an inventory of 1,000 different Octave bottlings during 2026. According to the company, the range has received 55 global awards since 2009.