德國 Wu Dram Clan – Whisky AGE・艾雷重擊

Wu Dram Clan

• Founded by three whisky loving friends, namely Takesado from Kyoto, Boris from Munich, Sebastian from Black Forrest.
• The bottling brand was founded in 2018 and received high scores from well-known whisky commentators, this is due to the fact that all bottlings must be agreed upon by three founders.
• It bottles a wide range of liquor including whisky (single malt Scotch, single grain, bourbon, distilleries from Scandinavia), rum, cognac and armagnac.
• The name of the bottling brand, Wu Dram Clan, pays tribute to the well-known hip-hop group named Wu Tang Clan.

｜About Brand

Wu DRAM Clan is rather famous in the independent bottling world. The brands’ bottlings often receive high praise from both Whiskyfun and WhiskyNotes. For example, 91 points from Springbank 26yo 1992 from Whiskyfun; 91 points from both Whiskyfun and WhiskyNotes for the Unnamed Islay 1991; another 91 points from both Whiskyfun and WhiskyNotes for Cameronbridge 46yo 1974; high scores even for the Cognac lot 62 as well. Impressive!

｜Diverse bottlings

Wu DRAM Clan bottles just about anything and everything including Scotch malt and grain whisky, American bourbon whiskey, Scandinavian whisky, rum, cognac and armagnac.

｜Brand ethos and core values

The brand was founded in 2018 by Takesado from Kyoto, Boris from Muenich and Sebastian from Black Forrest.

｜Cask selection and the rule of 3 tongues

About who gets to decide on a cask is worth bottling, obviously it is the result of an agreement being reached between the three. All three founders think the most important thing is what’s inside the bottle! Each cask is tasted by all three before deciding whether to bottle it. Through “the three tongues rule”, they think they can minimise subpart flavour!

｜Where the name comes from

The name of the brand took inspiration from a famous US hiphop group called Wu-Tang Clan. The founders put “dram” instead of Tang as it is a word that can mean whisky. This is how our beloved independent bottler came up with their name, Wu DRAM Clan.

Wu Dram Clan｜完整介紹

1.Introduction

Wu Dram Clan is a name that resonates strongly within the independent bottling community. If you regularly follow whisky review platforms such as Whiskyfun or WhiskyNotes, you’ve likely come across their releases — and their consistently impressive scores. A few notable examples include a 26-year-old Springbank 1992 rated WF 91 points, an Unnamed Islay 1991 that earned both WF 91 and WN 91 points; and in the non-malt category, a Cameronbridge 46-year-old 1974 (WF 91 / WN 91) and a Cognac Lot 62 (WF 90 / WN 91). These results speak for themselves.

The range of spirits Wu Dram Clan bottles is remarkably diverse — encompassing Scotch malt and grain whiskies, American bourbons, Nordic distillations, as well as rums, Cognacs, and Armagnacs.

The brand was founded in 2018 by three friends from three different countries united by a shared passion for fine spirits: Takesado from Kyoto, Boris from Munich, and Sebastian from the Black Forest. Although their logo has recently been refreshed, the signature element remains — the three founders’ portraits — symbolizing that the brand’s core spirit lies in their seamless collaboration.

Regarding cask selection, it is, of course, also the result of their collaborative efforts. When introducing the brand's vision, it was mentioned: "For us, content is everything." "In this challenging field, we need to find our own way. Every cask is personally tasted by all three of us before bottling, and only when all three agree will it be bottled. Through this 'three-tongue principle,' we can minimize and filter out undesirable flavors."Cask selection, naturally, is also a collective endeavor. As the founders put it: “For us, content is everything.” They go on to explain, “In this challenging field,

2. The Origin of the Name “Wu Dram Clan”

Many people are curious about the story behind the name — and it’s actually quite straightforward.

As several whisky enthusiasts correctly guessed in earlier discussions, the name draws inspiration from the iconic American hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan — “Wudang Clan” in Chinese, a reference to the legendary Wudang martial arts school.

Building on that idea, the founders added the word “Dram” — a classic term for a serving of whisky — and thus, Wu Dram Clan was born. In homage to its roots, we’ve chosen to translate the name into Chinese as 「武酒幫」 (Wǔ Jiǔ Bāng), which literally means “Martial Spirits Clan.” It’s a nod both to the group’s cultural inspiration and to the shared spirit that binds whisky lovers together.

3.The Three Founders: Takesado, Boris, and Sebastian

Takesado
➽ Hailing from the beautiful city of Kyoto, Takesado plays a key role in overseeing Wu Dram Clan’s presence in the Japanese market. With many years of experience in the whisky industry and deep connections within Japan’s spirits community, he has earned an outstanding local reputation. His keen understanding of the Japanese palate and market dynamics makes him an indispensable member of the team, helping the brand build a strong bridge with Japan’s quality-driven whisky enthusiasts.

Boris
➽ Boris, based in Munich and of Bulgarian heritage, brings to the team an immense passion for whisky — one that has driven him to gain extensive expertise over the years. A devoted lover of peated whiskies, Boris has cultivated close ties with industry professionals during his many trips to Scotland. His diverse cultural background and deep knowledge not only enrich the team’s perspective but also fuel his personal mission to share the allure of complex, characterful peated malts.

Sebastian
➽ From Germany’s storied Black Forest region, Sebastian benefits from his proximity to France, which has enabled him to develop exceptional insight into Cognac, Armagnac, and rum. He travels annually to these spirit-producing regions — and even to the Caribbean — building strong relationships with local producers and experts. His dedication spans every stage of the process, from the vineyard to the glass, or from freshly pressed sugarcane to the finished rum.

Sebastian’s passion and mastery of his craft make him an invaluable asset to the team.