This time, I went to see the Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery in Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and I would like to introduce it to you.
Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery
Speaking of Japanese whisky, Suntory's Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki are representative.
I think the runner-up would be Nikka (Asahi)'s Yoichi, Miyagikyo, and Taketsuru.
These are probably manufacturers and brands that even people who don't drink whiskey often know or have heard of.
What's next? Some people say it's Venture Whiskey's Ichiro's Malt. .
In fact, Kirin, a major beverage manufacturer, also produces whiskey and releases Fuji.
Kirin Seagram Co., Ltd. was established in 1972, and the following year, in 1973, the Fuji Gotemba Distillery was completed and whiskey production began.
1973 is the same year that Hakushu Distillery was founded, and has a history of over 50 years.
So, this time we will take a tour of the Fuji Gotemba Distillery.
I visited and observed it last year in 2024, and I visited again this year.
Last year's situation was ``here』。
How to make a reservation
Tours require reservations.
You can visit without making a reservation, but in that case you will only be able to view the exhibits, shop, and enjoy tastings for a fee; you will not be able to tour the distillery.
If there is space, you can make a same-day reservation, but it is best to make a reservation in advance.
To reserve a tour, clickonline site”.
There is basically only one type of tour available and the fee is 500 yen.
Payment will be made on the spot on the day of the event, and no payment will be made at the reservation stage.
Reservations tend to fill up on Saturdays and Sundays, so we recommend visiting as soon as your plans are decided.
Access
Access is about 20 minutes by car from Gotemba Station.
There is a free shuttle bus, so if you are using public transportation, please use this.
I'm thankful that the train operates on weekdays as well.
If you are coming from Tokyo, there is an express bus from Busta Shinjuku to Gotemba Station, so I always visit by using the express bus + free shuttle bus.
Tour begins
After arriving at the distillery, we looked at the exhibits and waited for the tour to start.
Now that the time has come, let's take a tour.
First, watch the projection mapping video.
As expected, the content was the same as last year.
Distillation/pot still
You can see the pot stills in operation through glass.
You can see the pot stills that were previously used up close, and even touch them if you like.
The thickness is equivalent to two 10 yen pieces.
As I mentioned last year, what I would like to draw your attention to is that it is possible to tour the continuous distillation machine.
Although you can't see it in operation, I think this is the only distillery where you can actually see and even touch it.
fermentation
You will be able to observe the fermentation process through glass, so you won't be able to see the aroma or temperature directly.
You can take a tour of the wooden vat fermentation tank, which was introduced relatively recently.
The material is Douglas fir from Vancouver, Canada.
The fermentation tank is buried and cannot be seen in its entirety, but it is said to be 3.5 meters long.
It is said that the wooden fermenter ferments without temperature control, while the stainless steel fermenter performs fermentation with temperature control.
The fermentation time is 72 hours.
Barrel filling
It is said that there is not much barrel filling work done every day, but on this day I was lucky enough to see the barrel filling process.
The main barrel type is a 180L white oak bourbon barrel.
I could smell the wood chips carved out of the sides of the barrels after the whiskey had been poured out, something that wasn't there last year.
There are two types, malt and grain, and you can feel the difference between them.
The malt had an estery, fruity aroma.
The grain was grain-like, just like bourbon whiskey, and it was spicy.
ripening
There are currently five aging warehouses with no temperature control, and approximately 130,000 barrels are stored there.
Generally, you cannot tour the aging warehouse, but you can tour the aging warehouse on special tours held on February 23rd (Mt. Fuji Day).
I'd like to go there someday.
labeling
You can also observe the labeling process, which you would not be able to see on a regular whiskey distillery tour.
Labeling is the process of attaching a label to a bottle of whiskey.
Confirming the position of the label is done manually, and it is a task that requires a lot of concentration, so it is done in 15-minute shifts.
Tasting
After the tour, it's time for a long-awaited tasting.
As a tasting,fuji single grain” and “Land” I was able to receive two types.
The bottles available for tasting were the same as last year.
fuji single grain
It smells like glue, has the sweetness of grain, has a refreshing feel like gum, and has a bourbon flavor.
If you add some water and swirl it around a bit and let it sit for 5 minutes, you'll get a clean, grape-like taste that feels like a high-quality bourbon.
Land
I think a highball would be a good fit for Riku.
It has a maple-like sweetness and a grainy taste.
I haven't had it in a while, but it's delicious when I try it again.
I will buy it next time.
Paid tasting
After the tour, there will be a paid tasting.
The lineup looks like this.
You can get it cheaper than drinking at a bar.
Although there is nothing exclusive to the distillery, you can sample limited edition items sold in the past.
This time, “Single Blended 2022 Masterpiece』、『Single Grain Fuji 50th Anniversary Edition” I received two types.
Single Blended 2022 Masterpiece
Above image left
Blended whiskey is made up of malt and grain.
Fuji Gotemba Distillery produces both malt and grain, so it is possible to produce blended whiskey at one distillery and call it single blended whisky.
This is a rare distillery in the world that can produce malt grain in one distillery.
The taste is delicious with green apple, grain sweetness, bourbon, nuts, a bit of meat, a bit of soup stock, brown sugar, and a complex blended flavor.
Single Grain Fuji 50th Anniversary Edition
Above image right
This is a bottle released to commemorate Fuji Gotemba Distillery's 50th anniversary in 2023.
This is a blend of original sake from that time and recent sake.
It's delicious with the sweetness and texture of the grains, and the grape-like fruitiness of a high-quality bourbon.
I should have bought it. .
shop
Next is the shop.
As for whiskey, we sell various standard products from Fuji and Riku, as well as glasses and sweets.
Single cask grain and malt bottles are available as limited edition bottles from the distillery, so I think these are the highlights.
Each 300ml bottle costs 3,980 yen.
It is quite rare to be able to purchase a single cask from a major brand, so if you visit Fuji Gotemba Distillery, purchasing one is a must.
Impressions
I visited Fuji Gotemba Distillery for the first time in about a year, and I was very satisfied with the tour, as there were some things that had been updated and things that I hadn't seen before.
Next time, I would like to try a special tour on Mt. Fuji day to see the aging warehouse.
I would like to visit as many different distilleries as possible in 2025, so I will introduce them again when I visit.
