Fukano Jikan – Kumamoto Whisky

Last Updated 9/11/2020

Fukano Jikan is one of four limited release whiskies exported in 2018 from the craft distillery. It’s a moderately fragrant rice shochu-based whisky with a creamy texure. Specific tasting notes include green almond, walnut, dried flowers, dried grass, green and golden apple, lemon and orange peel, caramelized sugar, vanilla, AND sour rice.

Jikan is a smooth and light whisky that doesn’t lack complexity. Yes, it’s basically over-aged shochu. And that’s not a bad thing. Being distilled only once results in a huge amount flavor from the base ingredients (rice, rice koji, and yeast) making it into the final spirit. With barrel aging and time, the undiluted Fukano rice spirit becomes koji whisky.

a bottle of Fukano Jikan whisky in a wooden room — Putting Kumamoto Rice Whisky on the Map

If you’re a Japanese whisky nut– I highly recommend seeking out Jikan. Retail supplies are drying up, but it can be found at many Japanese restaurants and bars in North America 2020. Prices are low compared to more famous Japanese whiskies, and Fukano is still expertly distilled and aged in Japan. If you must have your Japanese whisky made with a minimum of malted barley– I still think it warrants a shot for the above reasons. And you may find yourself curious about the deep, delicious world that is shochu.

Fukano Jikan Pairing and Service

Fukano Jikan’s shochu base and Sherry-forward character give it a flexible nature with food pairing. Roasted pork, chicken, and duck-based dishes will enjoy an interlude of Jikan. Raw oysters as well. If you like a contemplative sipper with your omakase than Jikan, or any other Fukano whisky, will complement your meal much better than most single malts.

Jikan is a complex rice whisky and can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, with a single large cube (cold but less dilution), or with a splash of water. In addition to these simple preparations, this rice whisky can make for some interesting cocktails. Fukano whiskies, Jikan included, make an excellent Old Fashioned– classic or muddled. A highball works well here too in a lighter, more refreshing way. Lastly, a Fukano Manhattan can be an savory, nutty take on the classic. However, I advise a modest amount of sweet vermouth.

a bottle of Fukano Whisky in a brightly lit bar — Representative of Hitoyoshi: The water is the famed Kuma River; brown mountains surround the basin; the torii gate represents the ancient Aoi Aso shrine; the golden dragons were said to be lured to the shrine.

Jikan Tech and Product Information

Ingredients: Rice, Rice Koji

ABV: 40.4% Age: NAS; blend of 3-11 year aged whisky

1,200 bottles produced

The Fukano Whisky Distillery

Distillery: Fukano Shuzo 深野酒造 Location: Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto

Official Site (Japanese)

This small distillery resides within the fertile rice-growing Hitoyoshi Basin 人吉盆地 of Kumamoto. They primarily produce rice shochu, or more specifically– Kuma-jochu 熊焼酎. The facilities house a number of large clay pots, which they use for aging some of their shochu. Their rice whiskies are aged in a variety of oak casks– producing a number of unique and complex whiskies.