Jota Tanaka, Master Blender of Fuji Gotemba Distillery, Interview
Whisky Brand Founded by Kirin Brewery in 1973
World's First Single Blend Whisky Released in 2022
"Looking Forward to Diverse Pairings with Korean Cuisine in Korea's Advanced Food Culture"
Fuji Whisky is a brand that pioneered the world's first "Single Blend" category in whisky. The single blend method involves blending multiple types of single malt and grain whiskies produced at a single distillery. Previously, there were "blended malt" whiskies made by mixing various single malts, but these were created by purchasing base spirits from different distilleries, so the term "single" was omitted. However, Fuji Whisky became the first to release a whisky utilizing the single blend method by distilling base spirits with distinct characters at their own distillery, aging them separately, and then blending them together.
Jota Tanaka, the master blender at Fuji Whisky, was the key figure behind the creation of the single blend method in 2022. The well-known Japanese company "Kirin Brewery" established Fuji Whisky in 1973 as a joint venture with Scotland's "Chivas Brothers" and the American company "Seagram's." The Kirin Group built the Gotemba Distillery 12 kilometers from the peak of Mount Fuji and began developing new whisky suited to Japanese tastes.
Jota Tanaka, master blender of Fuji Whisky, is taking a commemorative photo after an interview at the HiteJinro headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 25th. [Photo by Eunmo Koo]
During a recent visit to Korea, Master Tanaka described Fuji Whisky's identity in an interview with Asia Economy as "the pioneer of the single blend."
Gotemba Distillery is one of the very few distilleries in the world where Fuji Whisky can independently manage every stage of production, from input of raw materials to distillation, aging, and bottling. This allows complete control over the character of each base spirit used in blended malt whisky, enabling the distillery to achieve the optimal blending character it pursues.
Master Tanaka summarized Fuji Whisky's unique flavor profile in two words: "Clean," representing a smooth and subtle taste, and "Estery," characterized by fruity and floral aromas. He emphasized, "Such characteristics are possible thanks to the pristine natural environment at the foot of Mount Fuji."
He explained, "Gotemba Distillery uses only underground water sourced from melted snow on Mount Fuji," adding, "This water is naturally purified over approximately 50 years, contributing to the pure and smooth quality of the whisky." He also noted that the cool average annual temperature of 13 degrees Celsius and the constant influx of humid air from Suruga Bay create ideal conditions for whisky aging, further enhancing the whisky's flavor profile.
Since its founding, Fuji Whisky has consistently maintained its "clean type" malt base. Since the 2010s, it has also introduced the "fruity type" made with evolved production methods involving new input and fermentation processes, and in the 2020s, it began producing the "rich type" using wooden fermentation tanks and small pot stills. These three styles of malt base spirits are blended to create Fuji's single blend whisky.
Hite Jinro introduced Fuji Whisky to the Korean market for the first time last year and recently expanded its domestic lineup to a total of six varieties. Among them, the "Fuji Single Blended," which applies the world's first blending concept introduced by Fuji Whisky, is a blended whisky made by combining clean and fruity type malt base spirits with three types of grain base spirits?light, medium, and heavy?at an alcohol content of 43 percent.
Master Tanaka described it as "a vibrant yet well-balanced product created by the harmony of diverse malt and grain base spirits," adding, "It is a quintessential blended whisky that Gotemba Distillery aspires to, with a silky texture and impressive multi-layered flavors."
Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1962, Master Blender Tanaka began his career in the alcoholic beverage industry by joining Kirin Brewery in 1988. He later earned a master's degree in food science from the University of California, Davis, and served as quality director at the Four Roses distillery in Kentucky from 2002 to 2009. After returning to Japan, he became chief blender at Fuji Whisky and has served as master blender since 2017. Tanaka is only the second person to be appointed master blender in Fuji Whisky's 50-year history. In 2022, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the UK whisky magazine "Whisky Magazine."
He stated, "Fuji aims to be more than just a whisky, inspiring life and bringing joy," and added, "As Korea has a highly developed food culture, I hope Korean consumers will enjoy Fuji Whisky in various ways and pair it well with a diverse range of Korean cuisine."
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