FUJI Whisky is named after the most iconic landmark in Japan, Mt. Fuji, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, cultural inspiration, and the location of the brand’s home, the FUJI Gotemba Distillery. Based just 7.5 miles from the mountain’s peak and surrounded by pure forest, the FUJI Gotemba Distillery was established in 1973 to bring the best of Japanese craftsmanship, global technology, and styles under one roof.
In 2021, the brand launched in the United States, marking the first exports to the U.S. in the decades-long history of the distillery, debuting the FUJI Single Grain Whiskey nationwide. Now, FUJI has four expressions available in the U.S., most recently the FUJI 50th Anniversary Single Malt, which debuted in June 2024, and the FUJI Japanese Whisky, which is the sole Japanese Whisky in the world blended with malt and three global styles of grain whiskies from a single distillery.
One of the only whiskies in the world to use the mountain’s snowmelt in its production, it takes 50 years for this precious material to make it from Mt. Fuji’s peak to the depths of the underground aquifer below the distillery. This results in a uniquely clear, pristine, and soft water that is the foundation for FUJI’s distinctive expressions, which FUJI Whisky Master Blender Jota Tanaka refers to as the “precious gifts from Mt. Fuji.”
Tanaka was inducted into the World Whiskies Awards Hall of Fame in 2022, and with more than 30 years of extensive experience in the whiskey, wine, and beer industries, both in Japan and the U.S., he is only the second Master Blender in the FUJI Gotemba Distillery’s 50-year history. In addition to Tanaka, the FUJI Gotemba Distillery has a long history of awards and accolades and is considered the leader in Japanese grain whiskey.
FUJI Whisky is best enjoyed in the brand’s bespoke Kimura tasting glass, or a Sauvignon Blanc white wine glass, with a teaspoon of water to allow the whisky to blossom in the glass, unleashing an abundance of aromas and flavor.
FUJI Whisky Portfolio Overview:
FUJI Japanese Whisky (SRP: $70) is a single-site blended, 100% Japanese whisky inspired by the terroir of the Mt. Fuji area. This unique expression is the embodiment of what sets the Fuji Gotemba Distillery apart as the world’s only distillery to craft, nurture, age, and bottle three styles of grain whiskies – American heavy Bourbon, Canadian medium Rye, and a light Scottish style, in addition to a 100% malted barley all at a single site. Most recently, FUJI Japanese Whisky was included in Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 Whiskies of 2023, making it the only Japanese Whisky to make the entire list, a testament to the expression’s liquid excellence and the brand’s commitment to innovation. With notes of apricot, orange liqueur, and delicate fruit accompanied by a hint of honey and oatmeal cookies, the FUJI Japanese Whisky is a complex and remarkable addition to the core FUJI Whisky range.
FUJI Single Grain Japanese Whiskey (SRP: $95) is a blend of three different grain whiskies, each distilled using three different production methods from America, Scotland, and Canada, all crafted and blended at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery. Each distillate possesses its own unique flavor profile; the American method offers a heavier rich, floral, fruity style, while the Canadian type is medium, luscious, and delicately fruity; the Scotch process imparts a lighter, softer, yet compelling quality. This results in a delicately fruity whiskey that is both mellow and multilayered in profile.
FUJI 50th Anniversary Single Malt (SRP: $500) is a hyper-exclusive release with only 3,000 bottles – 400 bottles allocated to the U.S. An expertly crafted 100% Japanese malt whisky, the FUJI 50th Anniversary Single Malt symbolizes the half-century odyssey of the liquid, beginning at the peak of Mt. Fuji to your glass. With an average maturation time of 16 years, including some aged up to 50 years, this limited edition 50th Anniversary Single Malt is a result of Master Blender Jota Tanaka’s harmonious blend of malts from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s, to truly honor and showcase the gift of Mt. Fuji through the decades. Aged in an array of barrel types, including American white oak ex-Bourbon and ex-Beer, Spanish oak Oloroso, and French oak red wine, the FUJI 50th Anniversary Single Malt showcases a complex and distinct finish, one like no other expression.
FUJI 30-Year-Old Single Grain Japanese Whiskey (SRP: $3,000) is an exceptionally rare gem and limited precious whiskey that represents the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery. With only 100 bottles remaining for release in the fall, the whiskey is a blend of multiple maturates of Canadian-style grain whiskies, including distillates aged more than 30 years, some aged up to 40 years. Made possible by the batch distillation method “kettle & column,” it was then rested in used American white oak barrels – each barrel meticulously hand-selected by Master Blender Jota Tanaka to create a rich, luscious, and beautifully balanced style whiskey with sophistication.
: @MAGRINOPR