[LOUISVILLE, KY] — Mugen Spirit will debut “Nobunaga” on Dec. 31, the first release in its highly anticipated Shogun Series. Following the runaway success of the Yokai Series — each release claimed within minutes — Mugen once again defies industry trends, unveiling a whiskey shaped by age, proof, and narrative-driven craftsmanship: a love letter from Kentucky to Japan.
Inspired by Oda Nobunaga, the legendary 16th-century daimyō who reshaped Japan through bold strategy and ruthless innovation, the bottle reflects both power and calculated risk.
Nobunaga brought Japan to the brink of unification by embracing new tactics, including firearms, before his betrayal in 1582 at the Honnō-Ji Temple, where he committed honorable seppuku rather than surrender. The resulting Honnō-Ji Incident paved the way for his successors to complete Japan’s unification and usher in an era of peace.
“That tension between brilliance, ambition, and sacrifice is what drew us to Nobunaga,” said Kojin Tashiro, co-founder of Mugen Spirit. “Like him, Mugen exists to challenge convention. Our
Yokai Series selling out in seconds proved that whiskey enthusiasts are still seeking bottles with meaning and conviction.”
The release begins with 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, finished in Louisville for an additional aging period in ex-Japanese whisky casks from Chichibu, Japan — a rare and deliberate cross-cultural finishing choice that mirrors Nobunaga’s own willingness to adopt new ideas in pursuit of mastery.
Bottled at 120+ proof, “Nobunaga” delivers depth, intensity, and elegance:
● Nose: Ripe cherry, floral dark fruit, and oak layered with cacao, spice, and melted butterscotch toffee
● Palate: Evoking a Christmas dessert — rich dark fruit with prune and cherry compote, unfolding into sweet cinnamon and structured oak
● Finish: Long and resonant, with chocolate malt and rye baking spice lingering on the palate
With an age statement of more than 15 years, “Nobunaga” stands as one of Mugen Spirit’s most ambitious offerings to date. As many brands scale back amid shifting market conditions, Mugen
continues to lean into scarcity, high proof, and storytelling — an approach that has cultivated a fiercely dedicated following. “Peace only comes after struggle,” Tashiro added. “This bottle tells that story in liquid form.”
Given Mugen Spirit’s history of rapid sell-outs, availability will be extremely limited when “Nobunaga” releases on Dec. 31.
