Fukano 10 Year Old

An elegant, well-aged, malted rice Whisky aged in ex-Brandy casks.

Fukano Distillery has been operated in Hitoyoshi City since 1823 by five generations of the Fukano family. The current head of the business is Shigeruriku Fukano. Their primary product is Shōchū — an un-aged, lightly distilled spirit usually around 25% ABV. It’s exceptionally popular in Japan and has been produced there since the 16th century. Interestingly, since most of their products are based upon rice, sweet potatoes, and sugar — ingredients low in sulphur — their stills are made of stainless steel.

Fukano’s core Whisky lines are made from rice. But don’t think for a minute that it tastes like Sake. Fukano 10 Year Old is made from malted rice — it makes a huge difference — and is aged for a full decade in Brandy puncheons. What you get from all that is a flavor and aroma profile that can only be described as elegant with silky, light, and complex notes of exotic woods and florals. This makes Fukano 10 Year Old one of the most interesting and uniquely flavorful Whiskies we’ve come across over the last few years.

Smartass Corner:
A "puncheon" is a standard barrel used to age Wines and Brandies. The most common size holds eighty-four US gallons (318 liters). It is about 60% larger than a standard Bourbon barrel, or about one-third larger than a hogshead.