About Us

Shinano Singapore is Singapore's online store for authentic Japanese whisky, part of the Shinano group, a Japan-based spirits company with direct partnerships with the distilleries whose whisky we sell.

Who We Are

Shinano Singapore operates locally as Sea Shinano Pte Ltd (168 Robinson Road, #20-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912), part of the Shin Group corporate structure headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The group distributes Japanese spirits in over 50 countries and works directly with distilleries including Shinobu and Masahiro. In Singapore, we run exclusively online, giving whisky drinkers here direct access to these distillery partnerships without needing to go through a physical retailer.

What We Specialise In

Japanese whisky is what we do best. Our core lineup includes Shinobu, Kujira, Masahiro, Akashi, and Eigashima, five distilleries with very different styles and histories. Alongside whisky, we also carry a smaller range of Japanese gin, umeshu, vodka, and ready-to-drink cocktails for anyone looking to explore beyond whisky.

Why Shop With Shinano Singapore, Not a Marketplace or Reseller

If you've bought Japanese whisky online before, you've probably run into the same problem: it's hard to tell who you're actually buying from, or whether the bottle is genuine.

Shinano has direct distillery partnerships, including with Shinobu in Niigata and Masahiro in Okinawa. That means what you see on the bottle traces back to a named distillery, not an anonymous blend.

Because we're based in Singapore, delivery, customer support, and after-sales questions are all handled locally. You're not waiting on an overseas marketplace seller or hoping a cross-border shipment clears customs.

How to Know You're Buying Authentic Japanese Whisky

This is the question we get asked most: is this actually real Japanese whisky?

It's a fair question. Japan tightened its labelling rules for "Japanese whisky" in 2021 precisely because so many bottles calling themselves Japanese whisky weren't distilled, aged, or bottled in Japan at all. Under these standards, a whisky can only carry the Japanese whisky label if it's mashed, fermented, distilled, aged at least three years in Japanese wooden casks, and bottled, all in Japan.

Shinano works directly with individual, named distilleries such as Shinobu and Masahiro, rather than anonymous blenders. That gives you a clear line back to the distillery behind what's in your bottle.

Our Distillery Partners

Shinobu (Niigata) Shinobu is Niigata prefecture's first whisky distillery, founded by Ken Usami. It's a newer name compared to Japan's big legacy producers, built on the same pursuit of small-batch quality rather than volume.

Masahiro (Okinawa) Masahiro has been distilling in Okinawa for more than 140 years, making it one of the region's oldest producers. It was also the first distillery in Okinawa to achieve ISO 9001 certification, a marker of the consistency behind every batch.

Recognition & Credibility

Shinobu, one of our core brands, has won a Gold medal from the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) for its Mizunara Oak Finish Peated Pure Malt Whisky.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the whisky sold on Shinano Singapore genuine?
Yes. We work directly with named distilleries, including Shinobu in Niigata and Masahiro in Okinawa, so every bottle traces back to the distillery that made it.

Are you affiliated with Shinano in Japan?
Yes. Shinano Singapore operates locally as Sea Shinano Pte Ltd (168 Robinson Road, #20-01 Capital Tower, Singapore 068912), part of the Shin Group corporate structure headquartered in Osaka, Japan.

What Japanese whisky brands do you carry?
Our core range includes Shinobu, Kujira, Masahiro, Akashi, and Eigashima, alongside a smaller selection of Japanese gin, umeshu, vodka, and ready-to-drink cocktails.

Do you deliver across Singapore?
Yes. We're based in Singapore and handle delivery, customer support, and after-sales questions locally.

Can I buy directly instead of going through a retailer or marketplace?
Yes, that's the point of this store. We sell directly to you online, without going through a physical retailer or a third-party marketplace listing.