Kirin Beer Co., Ltd.
Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery, celebrating its 50th anniversary of operation, takes on a new challenge “Fuji Gotemba Distillery 50th Anniversary Signing Ceremony for Long-Term Purchase Contract & Barrel Filling Ceremony for Gotemba Barley”
Started manufacturing “Gotemba Malt Whiskey” using Gotemba barley, aiming for commercialization after 2028
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Kirin Distillery Gotemba Factory (President Akinari Oshida) is a new challenge for Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, by utilizing underground water from Fuji in the local area of Gotemba and fallow rice fields in Gotemba. Started manufacturing “Gotenba Malt Whiskey” using barley. To commemorate this, we held a long-term purchase contract signing ceremony and barrel filling ceremony for Gotemba barley, the raw material for Gotemba Malt Whiskey, on Monday, December 4th. On the day of the event, we invited Tsuyoshi Kaji, president of the Fuji Izu Agricultural Cooperative Association (hereinafter referred to as JA Fuji Izu), to sign an agreement between Kirin Distillery and JA Fuji Izu, as well as Mr. Masami Katsumata, Mayor of Gotemba, and
representatives from Gotemba. In the presence of barley farmer Izumi Yokoyama and Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. Master Blender Jota Tanaka, the whiskey distillate “New Make” was packed into oak barrels for aging. The new make that has been packed in barrels will be aged and used in some blends to be commercialized and delivered to customers after 2028. After 2031, we plan to release malt whiskey made from 100% Gotemba barley.
*This is the current schedule and is subject to change.
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From left: Mr. Kaji (JA Fuji Izu), Mr. Oshida (Kirin Distillery), Mr. Katsumata (Mayor of Gotemba)
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From left: Mr. Yokoyama (barley farmer), Mr. Kaji (JA Fuji Izu), Mr. Oshida (Kirin Distillery), Mr. Katsumata (Mayor of Gotemba), and Mr. Tanaka (Kirin Beer).
50th anniversary of Kirin Distillery operation, taking on new challenges “I want to express my gratitude for continuing to operate the whiskey business in Gotemba for 50 years.”
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First, Akinari Oshida, President and Representative Director of Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd., took the stage and talked about the 50-year history of the Fuji Gotemba Distillery, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, and the start of production of “Gotemba Malt Whiskey,” which is a new attempt. I talked about my thoughts. “The past 50 years can be described as a history of hardship.At one point, the market shrank to about a quarter of its peak, and our company also faced a long period of hardship.We are still able to continue making whisky. This was possible because of the support of the government and the local community.We express our gratitude for having continued business in Gotemba for 50 years by taking the form of a new initiative to manufacture Gotemba Malt Whiskey, and we also want to express our gratitude for having continued business in Gotemba for 50 years. We would like to spread the appeal of whiskey not only to Japan but also to the world. ”
“This is the first time in our 50-year history that we are producing whiskey using barley grown in Gotemba.”
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Next, Kiyoshi Fujii from the Western Liquor Production Department of Kirin Distillery Co., Ltd. took the stage and introduced the characteristics of Gotemba barley, and then explained the taste of new make products made from Gotemba barley. “Making whiskey using barley malt from Gotemba is our first attempt.The new make features the soft and delicate flavor of Gotemba barley grown in the clean air and warm sunlight at the foot of Mt. Fuji. This distilled liquid, which expresses our quality policy of “Clean & Esthetic”, is aged for at least 5 years in order to be able to age slowly and provide it to our customers at the most delicious time. ”
At the signing ceremony*, Mayor Katsumata commented, “Gotenba malt whiskey is spreading throughout Japan and the world.
It will be something wonderful that can showcase the charm of Gotemba.” [Image 5
From left: Mr. Kaji (JA Fuji Izu), Mr. Katsumata (Mayor of Gotemba) At the signing ceremony, we invited Mr. Takeshi Kaji, Chairman of JA Fuji Izu Representative Directors Association, to sign a long-term purchase contract for Gotemba barley between Kirin Distillery and JA Fuji Izu. Mr. Kaji said, “I feel that this initiative will be a major turning point for Gotemba.Barley producers also have high expectations for Gotemba Malt Whiskey.” ”, he talked about the significance of this initiative.
Mr. Masami Katsumata, the mayor of Gotemba, also visited and said, “I am very happy that wonderful malt whiskey has begun to be made from barley grown using the abundant underground water of Mt. Fuji. I’m sure it was, but I hope that this “Gotemba Malt Whiskey” will become a great product that will spread throughout Japan and the world as a specialty of Gotemba and show off the charm of Gotemba. ”I received the following words.
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Finally, Mr. Izumi Yokoyama, a farmer who produces barley from Gotemba, and Jota Tanaka, master blender of Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., also participated and packed the new make into oak barrels for aging. *The long-term purchase contract signing ceremony for Gotemba barley will be a two-party contract between Kirin Distillery Fuji Gotemba Distillery and Fuji Izu Agricultural Cooperative.