Whisky: Fuji Gotemba 18 Year 2018 Small Batch Blended Malt

Country/Region: Japan/Blended Malt

ABV: 43%

Cask: Oak

Age: 18 Years

Nose: Ginger, molasses, honey, brown sugar, malty, hints of coffee, citrus, herbal, woody, apple cider.

Palate: Medium to light-bodied, ginger, molasses, brown sugar, hints of walnut, dried coconut, a touch of spirit, dried vegetation, apple cider, herbal and yeasty ending.

Finish: Medium-length, mellow, and slightly drying with autumn vibes, subtle coffee, and molasses.

Score: 5-6

Mental Image: Autumn Cookie Tins

Narrative & Notes: The aroma offered gentle hints of cookie-baking— powdered ginger, molasses, honey, and brown sugar arrived with hints of dark roasted coffee beans. Calamansi and sweet citrus notes paired with subtle herbs and lemon grass before more polished and lacquered wood and malt entered the picture. Baking spices and herbal notes occasionally gave the aroma a mild autumn vibe with dried fallen leaves and spiced apple cider. Medium to light-body, the flavor profile began with gingersnap cookie production— ground ginger, molasses, brown sugar, dried coconut, and a touch of walnut liqueur. A touch of spirit popped on the mid-palate, while more dried vegetation, spiced apple cider, and a mellow herbal funk, almost yeasty, with dried citrus rind, chestnut, and ginger developed at the end. The finish was medium-length, mellow, and slightly drying with autumn vibes, a touch of coffee, and molasses.

I love whiskies with good Autumn-vibes. I often hit an element of sweet nostalgia with memories of playing in the leaves or hanging out with friends during crisp fall evenings. I tend to forget all the raking and yard work I did as a child, which is undoubtedly for the best. If this were just a bit richer and full-bodied, it could be an exceptional whisky; however, it fell just a bit short, and the finish was really on the short side of being medium-length. It reminded me of some of the more mature Jameson editions like the Bow Street.

I know I have had some whiskies from Kirin’s Fuji Gotemba distillery before, but this was my first time writing anything about the experience. The distillery finds itself in an awkward role at Kirin; the corporate overlords have more or less neglected to develop the brand— which is sometimes what happens in large conglomerates; a division, distillery, factory, or brewery can slip through the cracks. Despite the high demand for Japanese Whisky, the distillery has done little to develop its position and even scaled back production.

Overall, not a bad whisky, but not one that really stood out. For several years, the Fuji Gotemba whiskies were one of the better bargains on the domestic Japanese whisky scene. However, I am not sure how true that still is.

Image Credit: Whisky Auctioneer