The First Glass, for His Mentor’s Daughter｜Komoro Distillery Celebration Day

2026.11.07

November 6, 2026. At Komoro Distillery in Nagano, a Celebration Day was held to mark the birth of KOMORO ORIGIN, the distillery’s very first single malt whisky.

There was one moment that day that moved me more than anything else.

The person to whom Ian Chang gave the very first glass.

It was Caroline, the daughter of his late mentor, Dr. Jim Swan.

The man who taught him how to make whisky is no longer with us.

And to his daughter, Ian handed the first whisky he had created in a new land.

How beautiful is that……

Watching that scene, my heart was full.

What I felt that day were the hopes and connections of so many people, built up one on top of another before a single bottle of whisky could be born.

A Day I Simply Had to Witness

I was determined to get a ticket for this day.

On the day sales opened, I was glued to my computer, waiting! (lol)

Seats were limited, and the tickets sold out in about ten minutes.

Somehow, I managed to get one precious seat.

And so I set off from Hiroshima to Komoro.

On the day, a bus took me to the hot spring facility that served as the venue for the talk session.

I arrived quite early, so I stepped outside thinking I’d take a few photos of the area……

Huh?

Is that Shibuya-san in the car?!

Our eyes met, and we both went, “Oh!” (lol)

Shibuya-san had once come to Bar Little Happiness in Hiroshima together with Ian.

Actually, I hadn’t told either of them that I was coming to Komoro.

I wanted to show up and celebrate as a surprise.

And yet I got caught before anything had even started!

It was right before the first release.

They must have had a mountain of things to think about and to do.

Running into me by chance at such an important moment — I felt almost a little sorry……

But I was so happy to see them again after so long.

The Joy of Being Recognized Right Away

Before the talk session began, Ian was outside the venue greeting the participants.

The moment he noticed me, he came right over to talk to me.

He welcomed me, saying how glad he was that I had come.

“Actually, I came as a surprise!”

When I told him that, he was truly delighted by the surprise.

I was so, so happy that he recognized me right away and called out to me 💛

This was a major milestone in Ian’s life.

To be welcomed like that on such a day made me very happy.

The Road to Komoro, Told by Three People Who Knew Dr. Jim Swan

The event opened with a powerful taiko drum performance by local performers.

It ended with everyone in the hall clapping along in the traditional “san-san-nana” rhythm!

A festive start, perfect for a day of celebration.

Next, the talk session began, moderated by Eddie Ludlow of Komoro Distillery.

On stage were Ian, whisky writer Charles MacLean, Caroline — Dr. Jim Swan’s eldest daughter — and Eddie.

Just looking at that line-up, I could feel how special this day was for Ian.

Ian spoke about why he left Kavalan in Taiwan and came to Komoro in Japan.

One reason was his wish to make whisky suited to long maturation, in a cool climate.

Having created wonderful whisky at Kavalan, Ian was now taking on the challenge again from zero, this time in Japan.

And from the start, there was no way of knowing how the first whisky would grow.

In early 2024, he said, he was nervous every single day about how maturation would progress.

You know a child will grow, but you don’t know what they will become.

That comparison stayed with me.

After that, watching the spirit develop in Komoro’s climate, its water and a variety of casks, he came to feel it was heading in an even better direction than he had imagined.

Ian also spoke frankly about KOMORO ORIGIN.

Keeping in mind that it is still a young whisky, he hopes people will sense its quality and its potential.

He seemed to have a real sense that the spirit is steadily heading in the direction they are aiming for.

Charles, on the other hand, praised it highly: for a whisky this young, he said, this is remarkably good.

Even at a celebration, he looks at the whisky as it is now with a clear eye, and thinks about what lies ahead.

That attitude of Ian’s as a maker left a deep impression on me.

What Was Passed Down from His Mentor

Dr. Jim Swan’s name came up again and again during the talk session.

Dr. Swan taught Ian whisky-making over many years.

For the first five years, Ian worked hands-on in production — distillation, fermentation and more — and only after that did he learn blending.

Ian recalled that rather than giving answers right away, Dr. Swan guided him to think for himself and find the answers on his own.

Caroline also shared what Dr. Swan was like at home.

Family trips went not to the sea, but to oak forests.

The kitchen was lined with glasses, and even the children would nose the aromas.

Even a man known around the world as a whisky scientist had his own face as a father, seen through his family’s eyes.

And the words Caroline spoke about Ian have stayed with me.

“The student becomes the teacher.”

What Ian learned from Dr. Swan, he is now passing on to the next generation.

I felt that not only whisky-making skills, but also a way of learning and thinking, are being handed down.

There was one more story I found lovely.

Ian also explained why he had invited Charles this time.

When Ian built Kavalan from zero in Taiwan, Charles visited to celebrate its birth and was one of its early guest speakers.

And now came Ian’s second challenge from zero, this time in Japan.

He wanted Charles to be there for this important milestone, too.

Even when the place changes, the bonds between people continue.

I truly love stories like this.

The Day of Beginnings, Welcomed by President Shimaoka

After the talk session, we moved by bus to Komoro Distillery.

Then the “KOMORO KANPAI” ceremony celebrating the first release began.

What stayed with me most there was Komoro Distillery’s President Shimaoka.

To be honest, I don’t know President Shimaoka personally at all.

From what I had seen of him on YouTube and elsewhere, my impression was of a very cool, level-headed business leader.

But on this day, President Shimaoka seemed to me somehow deeply moved.

Deciding to build a distillery in Komoro, bringing in Ian, and launching a business before a single bottle of whisky had been completed.

How many great challenges must there have been between that decision and today?

I remembered something Charles had said during the talk session.

When he hears someone is building a new distillery, the first thing he tells them is, “Don’t do it.”

Passion alone isn’t enough. You need enough money to build a distillery and keep running it until the whisky is ready — and hardest of all is getting the whisky you’ve made to market.

Coming from someone who has seen distilleries all over the world, those words carried real weight.

Of course, I can’t know everything about the road President Shimaoka has traveled.

But I believe that bringing such a vast vision to life must have taken decisions and hardships beyond anything I can imagine.

And now, at last, the day of the first release had come.

President Shimaoka repeatedly expressed his gratitude to those who had supported him, to the local community, and to the staff who had walked alongside him.

I found him truly wonderful in that moment.

Whenever I visited Komoro Distillery before, I had felt how wonderful the staff were, and how refined the whole distillery felt.

I felt I understood a little of what lies behind that.

Picturing a big future, gathering people toward it, and walking forward together.

Seeing President Shimaoka that day, I felt a renewed, deep respect for that great challenge and the road he has walked to get here.

And the words President Shimaoka shared as precious to him were:

“The best is yet to come.”

He also said they would keep walking forward, so that one day people would think, “I’m glad I was there that day.”

After taking on such a challenge, the day of the first release had finally arrived.

Heard on that day, those words took on a whole new resonance.

With Hope in His Heart — and the First Glass to His Mentor’s Daughter

Next came Ian’s address.

Ian quoted the words about “hope” from the film The Shawshank Redemption.

When he left Kavalan in 2020, he said, it was hope that carried him toward his next challenge.

I want to build a distillery.

And I want to send our first whisky out into the world.

When one hope comes true, a new hope is born beyond it.

I felt that Ian’s words that day expressed exactly that attitude of looking toward the future.

The phrase “The best is yet to come,” spoken by President Shimaoka, also appeared in Ian’s speech.

That the two of them spoke the same words struck me deeply.

And then, at last, the very first glass.

The person Ian gave it to was Caroline, Dr. Jim Swan’s daughter.

Watching that scene, I thought: how beautiful.

What Ian inherited from his mentor.

The challenge that carried on from Kavalan to Komoro.

And its very first fruit, given to his mentor’s daughter.

To me, it felt like a glass offered to Caroline and, at the same time, somehow delivered to Dr. Jim Swan himself.

Of course, I can’t know what Ian was thinking in that moment.

But from the way he carried himself, I could feel his respect for the bonds between people and for everything that had been handed down to him.

Caroline also spoke about how the conversations and ideas her father and Ian once shared had now taken shape like this.

From Dr. Swan to Ian.

And from Ian to the next generation.

Through whisky, so many hopes are connected.

I was truly happy to witness such a moment.

Then the whole venue counted down together!

“3, 2, 1!”

Together, we celebrated the birth of KOMORO ORIGIN.

Another Force Behind Komoro Distillery

Throughout the day, there was one more person who left a lasting impression on me.

Ms. Shimaoka.

She closed the company she had run for ten years and decided to commit herself fully to Komoro Distillery, to help make President Shimaoka’s dream come true.

On this day too, from the afternoon talk session to the evening reception, she greeted guests and helped run the event, switching between Japanese and English.

Even in the middle of all that, she kept thanking people with a smile, and that stayed with me.

Making whisky matters, of course — but turning a distillery into a real business, and building and connecting relationships with so many people, is just as important a job.

From Komoro Distillery’s official YouTube channel, I learned that the three rings on the base of the KOMORO ORIGIN bottle also represent three people: Ian, Ms. Shimaoka and President Shimaoka.

This bottle was finally completed through the combined efforts of these three and of so many staff members and partners.

I hope to share the story behind the bottle design in more detail in another article.

A Glamorous Reception — and Me, Far Too Introverted

After the ceremony came the reception dinner!

The glamorous hall was filled with guests, with lively conversations everywhere.

People exchanging greetings, people deep in conversation.

Watching everyone chatting so happily, I thought how lovely it was.

And me……?

I’m way too introverted — big, sparkling crowds like this are really not my thing!!! (lol)

Before I knew it, I was sitting at the very edge of the hall, watching everyone.

But honestly, I enjoy that in its own way.

How many people must have worked, and how much preparation must have gone into holding such a wonderful reception?

The design of this beautiful distillery must also have taken a lot of trial and error to come to life.

I sat there imagining all of that, looking out over the whole hall.

Of course, I was curious about the food, too.

Several times I thought, “Maybe I’ll go get some,” but the food was surrounded by people.

For an introvert, it’s hard to find the courage to step into that circle (lol).

So I decided to take a walk outside and take some photos.

At night, Komoro Distillery is lit up, and it’s truly beautiful!

I looked at the building from outside — showing a different face than in the daytime — and took photos.

……But it was cold!!!

So back into the hall I went.

By then, everyone had finished eating and was chatting with drinks in hand.

Okay, now’s my chance! (lol)

When I finally tried the food……

It was astonishingly delicious!!!

It was less like catering and more like the cuisine of a fine Japanese restaurant.

Please enjoy this wonderful food in the photos.

A New Challenge, Spreading to Furano

During the reception, Ms. Shimaoka invited several guests to say a few words.

Among them was the Mayor of Furano.

I already knew that the company that runs Komoro Distillery is planning a new distillery in Furano.

But I was surprised that the mayor had personally come to celebrate Komoro’s first release.

From Komoro to Furano.

Whisky-making is spreading to new lands.

May KOMORO ORIGIN grow into something that connects people with people, and region with region.

In the mayor’s words of congratulation, I could feel the hopes of the people of Furano.

Once More, on This Important Day

At the reception, there was one more happy moment.

Ian came over to talk to me.

With so many guests there, he still thought of me.

I was truly grateful and happy.

But this was such an important day for Ian.

There must have been so many people he wanted to talk to.

Not wanting to take up too much of his time, I asked for just one photo together as a keepsake.

I came to surprise them, and got found out by Shibuya-san before it even started (lol).

Ian recognized me right away and came to talk to me.

And then, in the evening, he thought of me again.

It was a truly happy day.

I’m Glad I Was There That Day

Waiting at my computer on the day tickets went on sale,

I knew I absolutely wanted to be there on this day.

And when I actually took part, I found not just the years it takes to complete a whisky, but the hopes and connections of so many people.

The grand vision drawn by President Shimaoka.

The challenges Ian has built up over the years.

And behind them, his encounter with his mentor and all the people who supported him.

And then, at last, the day of the first release.

I think it was also a major milestone in Ian’s life.

I’m truly happy that I could sit in one of those limited seats and share that time.

President Shimaoka spoke the words,

“I’m glad I was there that day.”

Hearing them,

I already feel that way.

I’m deeply grateful to have been able to share this special day.

(The gifts we received at the Celebration Day)

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