Whisky Voices: Jota Tanaka

This interview is part of my ongoing Whisky Voices series, where I sit down with leading voices in the whisky world, from distillers and writers to ambassadors and innovators, to capture their unfiltered thoughts on heroes, villains, surprises, trends, and wishes.

In this edition, I spoke with Jota Tanaka, Master Blender and Executive Fellow at Kirin, leading the whisky program at the Fuji-Gotemba Distillery. A veteran blender and global whisky thinker, Jota spent seven years in Kentucky as Director of Quality at Four Roses Distillery between 2002 and 2009, where he helped refine and define the Four Roses Small Batch and Limited Edition bourbons.

Whisky Hero

“To me, there are a couple of people,” Jota said thoughtfully. “In bourbon, Jim Rutledge and Jimmy Russell, they’re my heroes.

In Scotland, Richard Paterson. And in Japan Shinji Fukuyo and Ichiro Akuto. All of them are my heroes in different ways.”

Whisky Villain

His answer here was short, serious, and revealing. “Those who try to take advantage of being Japanese,” he said. “People leveraging Japan’s whisky reputation in the wrong way, those are the ones I hate.”

A reference to the wave of fake “Japanese” whiskies that have diluted the category’s integrity in recent years, a concern Tanaka shares with many of his peers.

Whisky Surprise

Jota’s eyes lit up when recalling a moment of inspiration. “For me, one of the most inspiring moments came from my time at Four Roses,” he said. “When I worked on this bourbon that expressed notes of red rose petals, it gave me goosebumps. That was one of those unforgettable experiences.”

He added, “Another was with our own whisky [at Fuji-Gotemba Distillery]. We achieved the fruity character through controlled lactic acid bacteria fermentation. That was also an inspiring discovery.”

Moments of creative revelation, both scientific and sensory, that continue to shape his approach to blending.

Whisky Trend

“Not exactly a trend,” Jota said, “but what I observe is a global whisky boom that feels somewhat like a bubble. There’s a mushrooming of craft distilleries all over the world. Some of them are doing great things, but some are just jumping on the bandwagon. That’s how I see it.”

Whisky Wish

Jota’s wish, fittingly, looked beyond business and barrels. “I hope the whisky industry, and whisky lovers, can have a joyful life on this planet,” he said. “I want whisky to be part of that joy. I hope for a bright and promising future, with whisky as part of it.”

A poetic close from one of the whisky world’s most quietly philosophical figures.

Sláinte!
- Thomas