Kirin Single Blended Japanese Whiskey Fuji is the newest addition to the Fuji brand, which was introduced in 2020 and became a new standard in June of this year.
Many Japanese craft whiskeys focus on local barley, but in the case of Kirin, they do not focus on the place where the raw materials are produced, but rather on the greatness of the place at the foot of Mt. Fuji, where the whiskey is made and nurtured, and the time spent by the original whiskey there.
The new product that reflects this terroir of Gotemba is the “Single Blended Japanese Whiskey Fuji,” which has been released as a new standard product.
1. Manufacturer
Kirin Distillery Company, Limited
| Established | August 1972 |
| Head office | 970 Shibafuda, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 412-0003, Japan |
| Owned distilleries | Fuji Gotemba Distillery |
2. Distillery
Fuji Gotemba Distillery
| Location | 970 Shibafuda, Gotemba-shi, Shizuoka-ken 412-0003, Japan |
| Start of operation | November 1973 |
Aug. 1972 Kirin-Seagram Company established as a joint venture between Kirin Brewery Company (Japan), JE Seagram Company (U.S., at the time), and Sievers Brothers (U.K.).
Nov 1973 Fuji Gotemba Distillery completed and production begins
February 1974 Domestic whiskey “Robert Brown” is released.
July 2002 Company name changed to Kirin Distillery Company, Limited (becomes wholly owned subsidiary of Kirin Brewery Company, Limited)
Sep. 2005 Domestic whiskey “Kirin Whiskey Fuji-Sanroku Barrel Aged 50°” and “Kirin Whiskey Fuji-Sanroku Single Malt 18 Years” are released.
March 2016 “Kirin Whisky Fuji-Sanroku Blended 18 Years Old” and “Kirin Whisky Fuji-Sanroku Barrel-Aged Original 50°” released
August 2018: “Fuji-Sanroku Signature Blend ” released
April 2020: Kirin Single Grain Whiskey Fuji is released
Fuji Gotemba Distillery, located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, is one of the few whisky distilleries in the world to handle the entire process from preparation to bottling of malt and grain whiskies.
The distillery produces a wide variety of Kirin Group products, including whisky, mineral water, and canned chuhai, in a natural environment blessed with abundant subterranean water from Fuji, a cool climate, and frequent fog throughout the year.
In February 2019, we will be announcing the future further In preparation for the increase in whisky sales volume, production facilities were expanded, with an investment of approximately 8 billion yen.
In order to produce a wide variety of malt whiskey base, four new small fermentation tanks and two lines of four distillers were installed to approximately double the base production capacity, and the barrel storage capacity was increased by approximately 20% through the renovation and enlargement of the barrel aging warehouse. The company aims to establish a production system that will ensure a stable supply of high quality whiskey in the future. Operations are scheduled to begin in June 2021.
Reference: Kirin Distillery Company Limited official website
-
- Kirin Distillery Corporation official HP
-
- Kirin Distillery Corporation official HP
-
- Kirin Distillery Corporation official website
For more information about Fuji Gotemba Distillery, please see also here↓.
https://en.jpwhisky.net/manufacturer/fujigotenba_en/
3. Product name and photo
Single Blended Japanese Whiskey Fuji
Single Blended Japanese Whisky FUJI
4. Features
The first single blended whiskey recognized in Japan
This single blended Japanese whiskey is the embodiment of Fuji Gotemba Distillery’s commitment and characteristics in whiskey making.
The term “single blended” refers to a blend of malt and grain whiskies made at a single distillery, and was the first designation applied for and approved in Japan when this product was developed.
Fuji Gotemba Distillery, where everything from preparation to maturation is done at the foot of Mt. Fuji, blends a wide variety of malt and grain whiskies, making it a rare product of its kind in the world. In creating this single blended product, we placed great importance on the concept of the “terroir of time” in whiskey.
Terroir in whiskey refers to the location at the foot of Mt. Fuji where the whiskey is produced and nurtured, as well as the time spent by the original whiskey in that location. Fuji, refined over a period of about 50 years, as well as the air quality and weather conditions. The time and climate in which the whiskey was nurtured is the terroir of whiskey, and Single Blended Fuji is a reflection of the terroir at the foot of Mt.
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Aromas of peach and apricot, honey and butter, toast and cookies. |
| Taste | Smooth on the palate with sweetness of pear, peach, apricot and honey. |
| Aftertaste |
Silky, with sweet, fruity and rich aromas interweaving and lingering pleasantly. |
Reference: Single Blended Japanese Whiskey Fuji official website
4-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 43% alcohol by volume |
| Distillation | Malt, Grain |
| Cask type | Malt, Grain |
| Volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Bottles sold |
| Suggested retail price | 6,600 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | June 7, 2022 |
5. Awards
No awards received at this time.
6. Price
6-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Single Blended Japanese Whiskey Fuji |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 6,000 yen (6,600 yen including tax) |
6-2. Resale price on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is Around 4,000 yen to 5,000 yen The resale price on Mercari is (*As of 7/25/2022)
6-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auction
There were few items currently listed on Yahoo! Auctions and only one transaction. (*As of 7/25/2022)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
It is also sold at Around 5,000-6,000 yen The resale price on Mercari is (*As of 7/25/2022)
6-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site 1 glass, 45ml: 1,650 yen, 30ml: 1,100 yen, 15ml: 550 yen We offer this service at
https://jpwhisky.net/about/barshinkai/
7. Summary
The barrels were carefully selected to maximize the characteristics of each sake, and the blend is exquisitely balanced so that the colorful characteristics of the sake are multi-layered and vibrant, and there is not a trace of unripe distillate-derived aroma. The result is a fruity, transparent, and “beautiful” finish with no hint of unripeness from the distillate.
The manufacturer recommends drinking it straight in a wine glass (Sauvignon Blanc is best). The wine has a gorgeous fruit aroma reminiscent of peach, apricot, and orange liqueur.
Then, in the mouth, sweet aromas of honey, pear tart, and fruitcake will spread and make you feel pleasantly happy. If you want to enjoy the change of aroma, try adding a teaspoon of water and you will feel the fruity aroma more vividly. It is commented as follows.
Reference: Single Blended Japanese Whiskey Fuji official website
■Please take a look at our other articles on Kirin.
https://jpwhisky.net/kirin-fuji-sanroku-signature-blend-4409/
https://jpwhisky.net/kirin-single-grain-whisky-fuji-3371/
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
