KUJU distillery
The Kuju Distillery is the dream turned reality of the infectiously passionate Shoji Utoda. Working in his family liquor store, Utoda san’s interest in single malt whisky developed over years into a passion, leading to establish Whisky Talks Fukuoka, Kyushu’s largest whisky festival. After a fated meeting with Chichibu’s Ichiro Akuto in 2005, Utoda could no longer ignore his dream, and began plans to open his own whisky distillery. Over the next fifteen years with guidance from the teams at Chichibu and Mars Hombo, Utoda finally saw the distillery’s completion in December 2020. Located in the town of Kuju, strategically situated at the base of the region’s highest mountain range, the distillery benefits from access to abundant, crystal-clear spring water. The opening of Kuju Distillery marks a beginning of a dream realized, and the return of whisky making to Oita Prefecture.
PRODUCTS
KUJU “THE FIRST” CASK STRENGTH SINGLE MALT 58% ABV
For Kuju Distillery’s first single malt release, Shoji Utoda and his team decided to focus on the flavors that will define the distillery by emphasizing Kuju’s exceptionally vibrant character. This vatting of ex- bourbon barrels is supported by accenting sherry casks to create this deeply complex whisky full of fresh fruit and rich malt. Aromas of ripe pear, jasmine, freshly hewn wood, and sun warmed grass lead to an assertively dynamic palate. Rich malt, juicy green kiwi, lemon peel, and sweet pastry cream build to a harmonious crescendo before this whisk’s perfectly balanced finish. Much like the people of Oita, Kuju’s landmark first single malt is sincere, full of character, and wonderfully approachable.
Kuju Distillery New Born #01 59.0% ABV
Kuju’s New Born Batch #01 is the distiller’s very first release. Distilled in the winter of 2021, it was aged for just 7 months in first fill ex-bourbon barrels before being bottled in the spring of 2022. Its youthful profile shows a clear bright line to their future whiskies with fresh pear and barley sweetness on the nose. The lush fruitiness of the whisky is packed with even more juicy pear, mint, and honey biscuits, finishing long and spicy. Truly an exceptional beginning to one of the most exciting new distilleries in Japan.
KUJU DISTILLERY GREEN DRAM
OITA, JAPAN
Kuju’s Shoji Utoda is not shy about his love for the malt whiskies of Scotland’s Speyside region and while Green Dram is not one of them, the inspiration is apparent. This whisky is a blending of 2 year old Kuju with Scotch whiskies between 4 and 10 years of age. The imported whisky is not simply mixed in, instead these whiskies are rebarreled at Kuju and matured in the same warehouses as their own single malt. The result, as the name implies, is a bright offering of the fresh green apple, pear, honey, mint, and orange blossoms. The whisky’s aromas and flavors are evocative of the lush, green beauty of Kuju’s highlands in the spring. Green Dram is a phenomenally full-bodied blended whisky, that even with the inclusion of foreign whiskies, retains the hallmark of Kuju’s already iconic whisky.
Kuju Distillery Green Dram 46.0% ABV
Kuju’s Shoji Otoda is not shy about his love for the malt whiskies of Scotland’s Speyside region and while Green Dram is not one of them, the inspiration is apparent. This whisky is a blending of 2 year old Kuju with Scotch whiskies between 4 and 10 years of age. The imported whisky is not simply mixed in, instead these whiskies are rebarreled at Kuju and matured in the same warehouses as their own single malt. The result, as the name implies, is a bright offering of the fresh green apple, pear, honey, mint, and orange blossoms. The whisky’s aromas and flavors are evocative of the lush, green beauty of Kuju’s highlands in the spring. Green Dram is a phenomenally full-bodied blended whisky, that even with the inclusion of foreign whiskies, retains the hallmark of Kuju’s already iconic whisky.