Tenjaku is a Japanese whisky. The first thing I noticed is that the website claims it is expertly distilled and aged in Japan. Nice to hear as lower end of the Japanese whisky production largely relied on imported Scotch whisky, re-packaged as a Japanese product. Despite their claims on the website, the label itself says ‘product of Japan’ instead of ‘made in Japan’ which is not a good sign.
Their background story and information is also a bit thin. We know that Tenjaku is created in the city of Fuefuki (Yamanashi prefecture). The distillery isn’t disclosed, but this city housed the Monde Shuzo distillery, responsible for the horrible Fujikai spirit.
Their master distiller is called Kenji Watanabe. He has 30 years of experience, they say, but his name only appears on their own product websites. In fact there are several other brands, all very similar. Mikuni whisky or Sanka whisky for instance, created by the same person. All in all very little indication of authenticity, to be honest, so we’re cautious about this product.
The baseline expression is the Tenjaku blended whisky (40% ABV), but there’s also a Tenjaku Pure Malt at 43%. It is aged in heavily seasoned Kentucky bourbon barrels. There’s no age statement but the US website claims it is composed of 5-6 year old malts.
Tenjaku Pure Malt (43%, OB +/- 2025)
Nose: light, with pear sweetness, green apple, citrus (peels) and drops of floral honey. Also fresh oak shavings and very light hints of white pepper. Subtle whiffs of vanilla and grainy notes (hob nobs) underneath. Overall quite limited.
Mouth: on the sweet side again, with stewed apple and hints of toffee. A toasted edge, which leads to more caramelized notes, almond, green oak and a light hint of cardboard, sadly. Then some cake and a wee malty and herbal bitterness.
Finish: rather short, towards light ale, peppery oak and a hint of fruit tea.
Not a bad product per se, but not exactly a product to restore our faith in (low-end) Japanese whisky either. More of a highball whisky, in my opinion. In that sense it comes close to a middle-of-the-road Glen Grant 10 Years for instance. Given the vague provenance and the modest qualities, hard to recommend.