Brand
Tenjaku
Tenjaku is a Japanese spirits brand (whisky, gin, vodka) developed and marketed by Minami Alps Wine & Beverage Co., Ltd. The labels highlight Japanese botanicals and the use of local spring water; the range includes blended whisky, gin featuring typical Japanese botanicals and a vodka produced from domestically grown rice.
- Fuefuki · Yamanashi · Japan
- 6 products
The story
Tenjaku is presented as a brand produced and distributed by Minami Alps Wine & Beverage Co., Ltd., a company based in Fuefuki (Yamanashi Prefecture). Minami Alps W&B was established as a subsidiary of Tokuoka Co., Ltd.; the corporate site records the subsidiary's foundation in 2012. The Tenjaku brand is promoted with a focus on blending, use of local spring water and typical Japanese ingredients.
Production philosophy
The label emphasizes harmony and a connection with Japanese nature: simplicity, balance and the enhancement of local raw materials (Fuefuki spring water, fruits and botanicals from Yamanashi). For the whisky there is a focus on blending technique, while the gin and vodka underline the Japanese identity of the ingredients.
Territory
Fuefuki, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Awards and recognition
Japan Gin Distillery of the Year — New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC) 2022.
Production method
For Tenjaku whisky production centers on assembling (blending) selected distillates and using local groundwater for dilution. The vodka is described as produced from rice (including the use of koji malt in the preparation) and filtered through birch and bamboo charcoal. The gin is obtained by botanical distillation combining more than 10 Western botanicals with Japanese ingredients (yuzu, sansho, peach, green tea).
Distillation
Gin: botanical distillation (base of more than 10 Western botanicals with added Japanese botanicals). Vodka: distilled from rice using a technique that combines koji malt and polished rice; filtration through birch and bamboo charcoal. Whisky: assembly/blending of selected distillates and use of local spring water for dilution.
Ageing
For some expressions (e.g. Pure Malt Sherry Cask Limited Edition) a finishing period in sherry casks is applied (minimum 6 months). In general the whisky is obtained from blends of matured distillates assembled according to a blender's recipe.
Characteristics
- Type
- Brand
- City
- Fuefuki
- Categories
- Japanese gin
- rice vodka
- Japanese blended whisky
- pure malt whisky
- sherry cask editions
- Raw materials
- rice (Yamada Nishiki) - for the vodka
- malt (for the malt components)
- grains for grain whisky
- botanicals: yuzu, sansho (Japanese pepper), Yamanashi peach, green tea
- Casks and ageing vessels
- sherry cask
- Representative products
- Japanese Gin 70cl - Tenjaku
- Tenjaku Japanese Vodka - 70cl - Tenjaku
- Tenjaku Blended Whisky - Boxed 70cl - Tenjaku
- Tenjaku Blended Whisky - Special pack with 2 glasses - Tenjaku
- Tenjaku Blended Whisky Limited Edition - "Anime" box 70cl - Tenjaku
- Tenjaku Pure Malt Whisky - Aged 6 Years, Boxed 70cl - Tenjaku
What makes it distinctive
- Brand managed and marketed by Minami Alps Wine & Beverage Co., Ltd.
- Production/assembly presented as carried out in Fuefuki (Yamanashi) using local groundwater
- Gin characterized by Japanese botanicals (yuzu, sansho, peach, tea)
- Vodka produced from domestic rice (mention of Yamada Nishiki) with filtration on birch and bamboo charcoal
- Blending technique curated by a master blender mentioned on official pages