March 2023 - Kirin Whisky launched their flagship “Fuji” Whisky brand in Singapore as the 4th export country following France, the USA and Australia in an exclusive distributorship with Asiaeuro Wines & Spirits. 

Fuji Gotemba Distillery (also known as Mt. Fuji Distillery) is a Japanese whisky distillery owned by the Kirin group. It is the largest distillery in the world producing 12 million litres of whisky each year.

The Distillery

Mount Fuji Distillery, based in Gotemba Japan, was established in 1972 with the ambition of producing the ideal whiskies for the Japanese palate. It is known to produce four main world-whisky styles and blending them with Japanese precision to create their own unique expressions.

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

The distillery is located 12KM away from Mt. Fuji, a landmark referred to as the symbol of Japan. At an altitude of 620m above sea level, it is said that snowmelt and rain that takes 50 years from the tip of Mt. Fuji to turn into spring water is used as the source for Kirin Fuji whiskies, resulting in minerality which contributes to the clean and estery characters. 

The distillery is equipped with pot stills for malt whisky, multi-column stills for light grain whiskey, kettle still for medium grain whiskey, and double stills for heavy grain whiskey which allows the onsite production of whisky styles from across Scotland, the United States and Canada from grain to spirits. Thanks to the lenient Japanese whisky regulations, creativity like this gives whisky lovers the opportunity to experience in reality what would normally be speculative.

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

Master Blender

Jota Tanaka, the Master Blender for Kirin Whisky has a track record of involving himself not only in the whisky making process but also contributes ideas in the packaging. He explained that the current bottle design of the Fuji whisky range, when paying attention, has an indent of Mt. Fuji which when held up against the light can be seen as it is reflecting a reddish colour during sunrise. The iconic snowy mount is also presented with a green graduation on the labels. 

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

Tanaka joined Kirin Brewery in 1988 and thereafter moved to the U.S. and worked in a winery in Napa before completing a master’s degree in Food Science at the University of California, Davis. He served as the Director of Quality at the Four Roses Distillery for seven years before returning to Japan in 2009 where he was appointed the Chief Blender of Kirin whisky and then Master Blender in 2017, during which he was named ‘Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year’ at the Icons of Whisky (IOW) in the same year. He is the second person to hold the Master Blender post in Kirin Distillery in 50 years of the distillery’s history.

The Whiskies

Mt. Fuji distillery is the only distillery (so far) that can produce four different types of whiskies, namely Scotch-style malt whisky and three types of grain whiskies: American bourbon, Canadian- and Scotch-style grain whiskies.

Four products are made available to the Singapore market, including Kirin Single Grain Whiskey FUJI and Kirin Single Blended Japanese Whisky that make up the core range, alongside two limited editions – Kirin Single Grain Whiskey FUJI 30 Years Old and Kirin Single Blended Japanese Whisky FUJI 2022 Masterpiece.

Official notes:

Core range

Kirin Single Grain Whiskey Fuji

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

The entry expression of FUJI, the Kirin Single Grain Whiskey FUJI is a unique blend of three different grain whiskies to achieve a complex yet mellow variant. The blend presents scents of white grape and citrus, with a soft palate of honey, bitter chocolate and orange marmalade in each sip, finishing with a lingering woodiness reminiscent of Canadian styled grain whisky. Fresh off its debut year, the FUJI Single Grain was the Gold Medal winner at the International Spirits Challenge 2020 (700ml, 46% ABV, $168).

Kirin Single Blended Japanese Whisky

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

A harmonious composition of unblended malt and grain whiskies made from scratch, the FUJI Single Blended Whisky is the first-ever single blended variant to be approved in Japan. Rich with a silky mouthfeel, drinkers will uncover vivid notes of fruit tart and white flower honey for the perfect balance between fruity and floral, while its afterglow paves a luscious finish anyone can enjoy (700ml, 43% ABV, $158).

Limited Editions

Kirin Single Grain Whiskey Fuji 30 Years Old

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

The pride of the Mount Fuji Distillery, the Single Grain Whiskey 30 Years Old is a blend with a black honey laced aroma and coalescing notes of dark chocolate, honey, maple and wood for a soft yet profound palate, sweetly finished with a lingering woodiness. Launched to critical acclaim, the Single Grain Whiskey 30 Years Old earned the Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge 2020 (700ml, 46% ABV, $4800). 

Kirin Single Blended Japanese Whisky Fuji 2022 Masterpiece

[Image source: Kirin Fuji Distillery]

Precisely blended by Master Blender Jota Tanaka, the Single Blended Japanese Whisky 2022 Masterpiece is the embodiment of Kirin’s unique singular house style. Each bottle holds a secret culmination of 30 year old whiskies and various whiskies aged in red wine and ex-beer barrels, with inviting aromas of crème brûlée, peaches and incense wood, with notes of spicy rye, cherry and lychee for a long conclusion (700ml, 50% ABV, $2000). 

Kirin Fuji Whisky core range and limited editions are available in Singapore and Malaysia exclusively through Asiaeuro Wines & Spirits.

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