Nozawa Onsen, a village in Nagano Prefecture famous for its hot springs and its ski slopes, is home to the Nozawa Onsen Distillery, and Barrel-Aged Gin Small Batch Release 003 is the third instalment of its barrel-aged series. It was released on 26 May 2026 through a lottery, at 9,350 yen with one bottle per person, and a small number of bottles were kept for purchase at the distillery.

The base is the distillery's IWAI GIN, matured in American oak casks that previously held bourbon and maple syrup. The distillery never rushes the barrel: instead of following a fixed timetable, the team tastes regularly and decides when the gin has reached the right maturity. Each 500 ml bottle holds the gin at 55% ABV.

The tasting notes open with vanilla, caramel and rich American oak, followed by toasted wood and bright citrus, and finish with maple sweetness and dry oak. The bourbon cask brings vanilla and caramel from the charred American oak, while the maple syrup that seasoned the wood adds a gentle, rounded sweetness beside the juniper of the base gin.

The distillery's aged gins have also impressed judges: at the IWSC 2026 its Barrel-Aged Gin received a Gold Outstanding medal with 98 points, one of only ten gins at that level, with a light golden colour, juniper and subtle oak on the palate and a creamy texture. The distillery also produces NOZAWA GIN, CLASSIC DRY GIN, IWAI GIN, SHISO GIN and OBUSE GIN. At 55%, Release 003 is best tasted neat or over one large ice cube, which lets the maple and oak open slowly.