Fuji Gotemba Distillery has launched a limited-edition single malt whisky to commemorate its 50th anniversary, showcasing the distillery’s rich history and craftsmanship. The Fuji 50th Anniversary Single Malt includes whiskies ranging in age from 12 to 50 years old, with a unique blend of liquid sourced from the distillery’s inaugural production run in 1973.
The whisky is aged in a combination of barrels, including Bourbon, beer, oloroso Sherry, and French oak red wine casks, which contribute to its complex flavor profile. Master blender Jota Tanaka, the second person to hold the role in the distillery’s history, oversaw the creation of this expression. “To commemorate our distillery’s 50th anniversary, I meticulously hand-selected malts and conducted nearly 100 test blends to artfully craft this special edition whisky – a richly complex expression,” Tanaka explained.
The limited edition release features whiskies from various decades, including the 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, and 2010s, with the oldest liquid coming from the original 1973 distillation. Only 3,000 bottles of this exclusive whisky will be produced, with 400 bottles allocated for the U.S. market. Bottled at 52% ABV, the Fuji 50th Anniversary Single Malt is priced at US$500 and will be available in select U.S. states, including California, Washington, Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Florida.
Tasting notes include aromas of caramel, brown sugar syrup, apricot, and melon, while the palate reveals dried pineapple and white peach. The whisky’s rich complexity reflects Fuji Gotemba’s legacy of blending traditional techniques with innovative aging processes.
Fuji’s expansion into the UK market in October 2023, in partnership with distributor Spirits Cartel, follows a broader trend of increasing demand for Japanese whisky, although supply has been softening as new entrants, like Fuji, provide consumers with more options. Fuji Gotemba’s core range includes single grain, single malt, and blended whiskies.
This launch follows other notable anniversary releases in the Japanese whisky industry, such as Nikka’s “Nine Decades” in celebration of its 90th anniversary, which featured whiskies from six distilleries spanning the 1940s to the 2020s.
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