Tenjaku - Pure Malt Japanese Whisky

"Tenjaku Pure Malt boasts a rich flavor with a slightly nutty taste featuring hints of green apples and herbs. The subtle finish has notes of smoky vanilla and a woody tone. I would compare it to a really good, aged Single Malt Scotch. The cleaner kind with a focus on the heather honey and the grain. No smoke, no tricks, just pure flavor from the source and the barrels, & at 43%, it is smooth as silk and wonderful as a summer night sipper." Tom Anderer GM & Spirits Director

Hands down winner in a tasting of over 25 Japanese whiskys, Tenjaku is also a great value! When we decided to expand our collection of fine whiskys and bring in a selection of Japanese bottlings, what we found was that many were either too obscure and impossible to obtain, and they were often too expensive. But fortunately we found that is not always the case! The Tenjaku Pure Malt hit on all cylinders - outstanding quality, very reasonable price - it was hands down simply one of the best.

It’s a new Japanese whisky from Master Distiller Kenji Watanabe, one of the most renowned names in the Japanese whisky and winemaking world, with numerous award-winning whiskies since the 1990s under his belt. His newest venture at Tenjaku looks like another success!  

Here he uses 100% aged malt whiskies, and once the double copper pot distillation and blending processes are complete, he ages Tenjaku Pure Malt in heavily used bourbon barrels for up to six years to allow the flavors the time they need to fully mature.

The water source is very important here as well, along with all Japanese whisky. Tenjaku calls their water source the ‘lifeblood’ of their whisky, sourcing water from 250 meters below the fertile surface of the Misaka mountain range. It is then filtered through volcanic rock to ensure the velvety-smooth texture and mineral content that enables such an amazing balance of smoothness, cleanliness and character of flavor. I also featured this at the last Cree Whisky Collective gathering where it was a big hit! An absolutely wonderful dram this comes very highly recommended - Cheers! Tom Anderer GM & Spirits Director