Top 10 bottles to bring to a holiday party: Tenjaku Blended Whisky

Welcome to installment ocho of this 10-piece list. If you’re just stumbling into this series, my post from November 1 has the loose criteria I’m using to drum up this list of bottles I’d recommend to take to any upcoming holiday soirée you might attend. Today’s featured bottle is by far the one most likely to elicit a confused “huh?” from someone reading this list, but let me identify some virtues for you.

Tenjaku Blended is the intro bottle from the young Tenjaku Distillery, located in Fuefuki, Japan. They’re straight up with the buyer in telling you this bottle is *not* legally considered Japanese Whisky under the new whisky laws, but it nonetheless is a great introduction to Japanese-style whisky blending that is arguably the centerpiece of the traditional Japanese approach to making whisky. Plus the bottle is instantly going to draw eyes to it when you put it on the bar counter — whisky neophytes are gonna see the kanji, and hardcore fans are gonna be intrigued by a Japanese bottle unexpectedly cropping up among the vodkas and gins.

This bottle is so sweet and nimble, I’d nearly describe it as effervescent. Thankfully, it never veers into “thin” territory, as the fruit and honey notes stand up even at 40% ABV/80 proof. This is decidedly in the Highland malt whisky pathway, and as such, makes an exceedingly friendly bottle to introduce new whisky fans to neat/rocks pours. While longtime Japanese whisky fans used to rolling deep in the Suntory/Nikka/Mars bluebloods might be slightly less entertained, I’m willing to bet they’ll be happy to see any Japanese spirit at the party.

This all said, from my read of that company press, this bottle wants to be used in cocktails. The honey and citrus core of this whisky puts essentially the entire cocktail playbook on the table, but it especially would sing in a hot toddy. I can also say from experience this bottle is dynamite when used with an elderflower liqueur and/or any version of a floral syrup.

So, while at $40-ish MSRP this isn’t the cheapest bottle on the list, it’s a fun surprise to toss into the mix. It’s definitely a conversation starter.

**UPDATE** — the importer and social media teams of Tenjaku USA are upset with my remarks that Tenjaku Blended does not appear to meet the new Japanese whisky trade regulations effective April 1, 2021. They have asked me to delete this post, which I will not be doing. They of course are welcome to provide information showing I’m mistaken and Tenjaku meets the new trade guidelines, but they have not done so. You may draw your own conclusions.

Image courtesy of Jon who also writes on Low Class & High Proof.

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