whisky

When Yoshiharu Takeuchi founded Nine Leaves in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, in 2013, his approach to rum was anything but conventional. With a background outside the traditional spirits industry and a fascination for Japanese whisky, Takeuchi sought advice and practical experience from Ichiro Akuto, founder of Chichibu Distillery.

In recent years, the market for rare spirits — especially collectible Whisky and Rum bottlings — has seen extraordinary price increases. Alongside passionate enthusiasts and long-time collectors, a growing number of investors entered the market, turning certain bottles into highly traded assets rather than objects of enjoyment.