Kirin Fuji Sanroku Signature Blend Blended Japanese Whisky (700ml)

Gold Medal - World Whisky Awards 2018.

Following the massively successful 'Fuji Sanroku Tarujuku 50', comes this "Signature Blend", also one of the few Japanese whiskies to be bottled non chill filtered and at high strength - 50% ABV. Launched in Japan earlier in 2018 as a premium label, it was available at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery or via Kirin's Drinx webstore exclusively.

Along with Asahi, Kirin has been a late comer to the whisky scene. Fuji Gotemba was opened in 1973 as a joint venture between Seagrams and Chivas Brothers and didn't release a whisky until 2004. While Suntory and Nikka continue to dominate, Kirin has demonstrated a commitment to high quality from the get-go. Chief blender, Jota Tanaka, makes the most of a sophisticated facility, recently winning World's Best Grain at the World Whisky Awards, followed by a Gold Medal for the Signature Edition in 2018. A small quantity has landed in Australia. This has been summed up as a robust, fruity malt with a whisper of smoke.

Other reviews... Fuji-Gotemba Distillery’s talent for grain whisky is evident here, with a nose of waxy green leaves, whole peppercorn, and fleeting glimpses of lemon peel, lime zest, and white peach amid the airy, floral top notes. It has a serene, calming quality to it. Spicy pepper, orange peel, mouth-coating vanilla, creamy toffee, and crunchy apple, with a clean finish, like orange flesh laid out on hot stones. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick.