In simply the previous ten years the class has gone from beloved by a number of in-the-know bartenders and fans to essential acclaim, hovering costs, and pronounced shortages. Nonetheless, as in most industries, sudden challenges additionally result in alternatives for innovation and new ventures. Stepping in to fulfill the demand is Tenjaku, a masterfully blended but fairly priced whisky that serves as the right introduction to the world of Japanese whisky making. We ask Managing Director of Tenjaku Whisky USA to inform us extra about whisky made in Japan.
Inform us a little bit of backstory and historical past about Tenjaku Whisky.
Tenjaku is created within the metropolis of Fuefuki, situated within the jap a part of Kofu Basin in Yamanashi Prefecture. This fertile land encircled by hovering peaks, with the Chichibu mountains rising to the north and the Misaka vary to the south, is famend as Japan’s high peach and grape producing area. Wanting in the direction of Mt. Fuji and the Southern Alps, it’s a place blessed with boundless nature, with verdant forests, stunning orchards, sizzling springs, and crystal-clear streams.
Water may be mentioned to be the “soul” of whisky. Fuefuki sits atop an alluvial fan system into which the superb pure water from the Misaka Mountain vary flows. Filtered by porous volcanic rock, it’s excellent for dilution when creating blended whiskies – velvety-smooth and barely alkaline in nature. The reasonable mineral content material current within the water creates a whisky that’s {smooth} and easy-to-drink with a well-balanced taste.
Speak to us about Japanese Whisky. Why was the time proper for its recognition?
After the unprecedented rise in demand for Japanese whisky within the U.S. over the previous few years, costs have been pushed sky excessive as provide continues to falter. Aficionados both get fortunate with their search or pay massively inflated charges to get their palms on a bottle. Enter Tenjaku to resolve this want. Tenjaku Whisky provides an considerable provide of inexpensive, high-quality Japanese whisky to the US market. Our 91 (Distinctive) score and 2020’s Greatest Japanese Blended Whisky award from the Beverage Testing Institute permit this whisky to face toe-to-toe with its friends.
What ought to bartenders learn about Tenjaku Whisky?
It has been mentioned that it’s the water, local weather and those that make Japanese whisky so particular. This philosophy lives inside every bottle of Tenjaku Whisky because it’s distilled within the metropolis of Fuefuki, overlooking Mt. Fuji.
If persons are the guts of Tenjaku, atmosphere is the soul. And nothing embodies this just like the pure spring water that serves because the lifeblood of Tenjaku Whisky. All water used in the course of the distillation course of is drawn from 250 meters beneath the floor of the Misaka Mountain vary. It’s then filtered by volcanic rock making certain a velvety-smooth texture and reasonable mineral content material leading to a whisky that’s equally balanced and flavorful.
In a sentence or two, how ought to a bartender describe Tenjaku to certainly one of their friends?
The American shopper is searching for higher and higher spirits over current years, and Tenjaku suits the development completely.
The Tenjaku Blended Whisky is mixed beneath the cautious supervision of a celebrated grasp distiller, Kenji Wantanabe, to attain its exceptionally well-balanced taste at 40% ABV. However it does so at a much more approachable value level than shoppers would possibly count on. With a mashbill of 86% corn and 14% barley, all introduced along with purified groundwater from Japan, I feel it’s an ideal introduction to Japanese whisky.
After all, for the Japanese whisky connoisseur, or for these able to step as much as a pure malt, I feel it’s arduous to high the worth to cost ratio on our Tenjaku Pure Malt Whisky. After all, having a grasp distiller like Kenji Wantanabe and pristine Japanese water is a giant a part of that.
What’s the easiest way to serve or combine with Tenjaku Whisky?
Tenjaku is superb to sip neat or on the rocks. It can be loved within the traditional Japanese Highball or in among the distinctive cocktails on our web site.
Speak to us a bit concerning the title and packaging.
On the label are the Japanese characters for the skylark (hibari), the much-loved herald of spring within the East and West and for this masterfully blended whisky. Just like the clear, beautiful tune of a small chook, Tenjaku options an agreeably pure, mellow taste.
What’s subsequent for the model?
We plan to launch Tenjaku Vodka in February 2023. Tenjaku Whisky Pure Malt Mix of various ages additionally to be launched in February 2023. Sherry cask, restricted version, bottle from Bruni Glass Italy. We proceed to roll out Tenjaku Japanese Gin which has amongst its botanicals Yuzu and Inexperienced Tea. It has been met with an ideal market response and is more and more ubiquitous out there. Plus, the packaging has a particular blue coloration and bartenders love the way it pops on the again bar.
