Kirin Brewery Co and Pernod Ricard have added a Japanese whisky to their European distribution arrangement.
Kirin’s Fuji brand will join the brand owner’s Four Roses Bourbon in Pernod Ricard’s distribution portfolio in the continent. The addition, which took effect last month, sees the Paris-headquartered group handle Fuji’s three-strong range of whiskies in 13 countries, including Italy, Poland and Pernod Ricard’s domestic market.
The move, announced this week, includes the potential to “extend this list [of markets] to other geographies at a later stage”.
According to the two companies, Fuji, which is produced at the Fuji Gotemba distillery 100km south-west of Tokyo, comprises three aged expressions – Single Blended, Single Grain and Single Malt – and is positioned in the “super-premium” price bracket.
Pernod Ricard does not have a Japanese whisky of its own but holds a “significant” stake in Ki No Bi, a Japanese gin the company bought into three years ago.
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