Fuji - Gotemba (Kirin)

Question 1

When was Fuji Gotemba established? By whom?

Answer 1

Established as joint venture by Kirin-Seagrams-Chivas in August of 1972
Kirin (50%)
Seagram’s (45%)
Chivas (5%)

Kirin bought back Seagram’s share in 2000 and also acquired Four Roses

Question 2

Where is Fuji-Gotemba located?

Answer 2

Central Honshu - foot of Mt Fuji

Question 3

What type of stills does Fuji use?

Answer 3

-Multi column continuous still - makes three different types of spirit
-Batch distillation in Kettle still - longer, but makes soft and rich distillate
-Two sets of Pot stills

Question 4

Who is master distiller at Fuji-Gotemba?

Answer 4

Jota Tonaka - worked at Raymond Winery in Napa, then Kirin-Japan, then Four Roses then Fuji

Question 5

What is the water source for Mt Fuji distillery?

Answer 5

Three bore holes near Mt Fuji.

Analysis has shown it takes 50 years for water through the hardened lava of Mt Fuji

Question 6

How Long are fermentations at Fuji? Where does the yeast come from?

Answer 6

Fermentations are 92 hours long.

Source of various yeasts from Seagram’s stable. Four Roses connection?

Question 7

What are the three types of grain whisky produced at Fuji?

Answer 7

Light (95% corn, 5% mb)
-distilled in standard multi-column still.

Medium (95% corn, 5%mb)
Beer column, Kettle, Rectifying column (still high abv, but leaves more flavor in the spirit)

Heavy (small amount of rye)
Distilled like Bourbon in a beer column & a doubler)

Question 8

What are the various columns that make up multi-column still system at Fuji?

Answer 8

B=beer column
A=Aldehyde column
R=Recifying column
F=Fusel Oil Column
H=heads column

Question 9

Three types of distillate from multi-column system at Fuji

Answer 9

Light -
90c, 10mb / multi-column still, distilled to 94% abv, filled at 62.5% abv into refill ex-bourbon.

Batch-Light (medium)
90c 10mb, batch distilled beer still, kettle, rectifying column, distilled to 94%, filled at 62.5% into 1st fill bourbon, then refill casks when needed.

Heavy -
C+MB+Rye, beer still+ doubler, distilled to 68% abv, filled at 55.5% abv into mainly virgin oak.

Question 10

Where do most of the casks for Fuji come from?

Answer 10

Mostly ex-Four Roses barrels (kirin owns both) mostly first fill but they are reusing some casks and also using some new wood.

Question 13

Which award has Fuji whisky won multiple times?

Answer 13

Fuji has won “Best Single Grain Whisky” at the World Whisky Awards at least four times (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)

Question 14

Fuji’s batch kettle

Answer 14

-makes medium weight corn distillate
-distillate run through beer still
-collected in a kettle and reheated and then driven through a 61 plate rectifier