Alexandrion Group, Romania’s leading producer of spirits and sparkling wines, is prospecting locations in Japan to build a distillery that will produce Japanese single malt whisky. Nawaf Salameh, Alexandrion Group’s founding chairman, visited 15 potential sites in ten different cities located in four Japanese prefectures.
Dr. Salameh and the Alexandrion Group delegation started their journey to Japan, on the northern island of Hokkaido, near the location where Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky, established his distillery nearly nine decades ago. In the town of Bibai, Dr. Salameh said, “Hokkaido, with its snowy mountains and green meadows, reminds me of the Carpathian Mountains, and the proximity to the distillery built by the great Masataka Taketsuru, or Massan, as he is called by all those who appreciate him in Japan, makes me feel close to this place. Massan was a perfectionist and a committed creator. I learnt a lot from reading about his life and tasting his great whisky. I see common ground between our ways of thinking, and I remembered how proud I feel when my fellow Romanians refer to me as the father of Romanian single malt whisky”.
Next stop was Miyagi Prefecture in the northeastern region of Tohoku. Miyagi, with its beautiful mountains and scenic coastline, is also home to Massan’s second distillery, nestled in a mountain that reminded him of Scotland, where he studies the craft of whisky-making in the early 20th century. Miyagi prefecture suffered a mega earthquake and a devastating tsunami in 2011. The double disaster hit hard, but the will of the people in the region was stronger, not only to survive, but also to build amazing modern towns for future generations. Dr. Salameh was touched by the sincerity and grace of everyone he met in Miyagi, and very impressed with the modern infrastructure being built in the area. Miyagi is considered a strong candidate to host the Alexandrion Group’s distillery, due to its rich natural resources and enormous economic potential, and also because of its special place in the history of the Japanese whisky.
“Alexandrion Group would be delighted to contribute to the region’s reconstruction efforts and be part of its thriving future”, Dr. Salameh commented.
Alexandrion Group’s founding chairman ended his trip to Japan with a visit to Mount Fuji, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. The region has many valuable natural resources that could successfully support the operations of the distillery. Mount Fuji has important water resources, a variety of climatic zones and is an extensive natural habitat for many species of wildlife. An unparalleled spiritual center and tourist destination, the mountain that keeps on giving was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (as a cultural site) in 2013.
Dr. Salameh made the following comments at the end of his trip to Japan: “The idea of producing and maturing a world-class single malt whisky in the mystical landscape of Mount Fuji is extraordinary. In fact, everywhere we visited in Japan we encountered mesmerizing scenery and an incredibly rich environment, in addition to excellent infrastructure and a history of whisky-making that inspires awe and commands respect. I am happy that the Alexandrion Group has already started to write its own story in this wonderful country.”
Regarding his business vision in Japan, Dr. Salameh said: “Alexandrion Group has always believed that single malt whisky is the product of the culture and nature symbiosis. And we have a great respect for both culture and nature. Based on this philosophy, we created the first single malt whisky in Romania, Carpathian Single Malt Whisky, as well as other spirits and wines, which over the years have won awards at some of the most prestigious international competitions.”
