| Brand | Fukano |
| Region | Kumamoto, Japan |
| Spirits Type | Whisky |
| Spirits Style | Blended |
| ABV | 43% |
Product details
Fukano Whisky Select is an annual limited‑release koji whisky crafted at Fukano Distillery in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto—a sake and shochu producer since 1823 under fifth‑generation distiller Shigeruriku Fukano. This expression is distilled from 100% locally grown malted, unmalted, and koji rice in stainless steel pot stills (no copper needed, thanks to rice’s low sulfur), then matured in a strategic blend of new and refilled white oak, ex-red wine, and Manzanilla sherry casks. Each release reflects a moment in time—this 2023 iteration, drawn from six single casks plus an added red wine and sherry cask finish, resulted in a vibrant batch of just 4,172 bottles at 43% ABV, earning accolades such as Platinum at the 2023 Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards for Best in Category – World Whisky.
The aroma greets you with jammy red fruits—stewed strawberry, ripe peach and red apple—woven with confectionery spice, cinnamon, and a hint of cola and pepper. The palate evolves from initial sweetness into layered dehydrated apple, black fruit pastilles, and earthy wet clay, rounded out by warm oak and lingering spice on a long, morish finish. With its silky, medium body and harmonious balance between fruit, spice, and oak, Fukano Select pairs beautifully with richer foods. Try it alongside glazed duck breast, aged Manchego, mushroom risotto, or even a fruit-forward pecan tart—each bite echoes and accentuates its orchard fruit sweetness, spice accents, and gentle umami undertones.
