ANTELOPE, a meadery based in Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture, is known for crafting remarkable connections through their one-of-a-kind meads. When they acquired a collection of rare bourbon and rye whiskey barrels from the U.S., haccoba was lucky enough to secure a few of these prized casks—an exciting opportunity that sparked a whole new experiment.

Using the barrels from ANTELOPE, haccoba decided to make their first honey-based brew, combining rice and honey and aging the mixture through secondary fermentation in American whiskey barrels.

The result is a richly aromatic rice-and-honey brew, wrapped in the deep, smoky sweetness of bourbon. It's indulgent, fragrant, and wonderfully mellow—perfect for savoring a special moment. Last season, Sato experimented with a Japanese take on braggot—a style of mead made with malt—by combining koji and honey. Since then, he's been fascinated by the flavor of fermenting rice and honey together. This time, he took it further, adding secondary fermentation in a bourbon barrel.

The previous version leaned quite dry, but this time, the flavor was balanced to highlight the natural sweetness of koji and honey, complementing the bold bourbon aroma.

With just three simple ingredients—rice, rice koji, and honey—the team also used an orange blossom honey in the final stage, using a mead technique called “back sweetening.” This adds a soft, citrusy nuance reminiscent of fresh oranges. This release features the first two of four unique barrels. Expect a fresh, vivid flavor.

《Willett Bourbon》

Sourced from a Midwest-exclusive Willett Bourbon barrel
Only available directly from the distillery—extremely limited and rare
《Barton 1792》

From Barton 1792, the oldest distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky

Handling Precautions
・Please refrigerate immediately upon arrival.
・If stored for a long period of time, the yeast activity may cause the contents to overflow. Please chill well and open slowly to release the gas inside.
• Sediment (alcohol components) may settle at the bottom of the bottle. Gently mix the contents before pouring to enhance the flavour.
Aged 7–10 years, this Kentucky straight bourbon is celebrated for its refined complexity
Features a high-rye mash bill, adding spiced layers to its classic caramel and vanilla base