If you’re a whisky drinker, you’ve probably heard of Japanese whisky. And if you haven’t, know this: the best Japanese whiskies are some of the most sought-after aged spirits on the planet.
Japan has been producing whisky for a hundred years, but the world’s drinkers only woke up to its amazing quality a couple of decades ago.
What makes it so prized? Japan makes whiskies in a style similar to Scotch. In fact, the country’s pioneering distiller, Masataka Taketsuru, studied whisky-making in Scotland.
Like Scotch, Japanese whisky uses malted grains (usually barley) and is rested in wooden casks. Japan has great-quality water — ideal for whisky-making — as well as peat supplies and ideal conditions for ageing.
Japanese whiskies come in many styles, but most tend to taste refined and smooth. They can often be easier for whisky newbies to appreciate than some of the super smoky or iodine-flavoured Scotch numbers, too.
It’s important to note that not all whiskies bottled by Japanese brands are distilled in the country. Due to intense demand for the spirit, in recent years distilleries have sold whiskies from other parts of the world (say, Scotland or Canada) after blending or ageing them on Japanese soil.
New rules coming into force in 2024 will make fully Japanese-made whiskies a lot easier to spot. But if you want one that is through-and-through authentic, look out for bottles that are labelled ‘Japanese whisky’ as opposed to ‘blended in Japan’ or ‘world whisky’.
It helps to have a bigger budget, too. Due to their scarcity, many 100% Japanese whiskies tend to demand high prices – perhaps beyond what you’re prepared to spend.
With that in mind, we asked drinks expert and writer Alicia Miller to come up with a list of her favourite Japanese whiskies – and her choices included both expensive and more affordable options.
Suntory Whisky Toki
- Suntory Whisky Toki, £24.49 for 70cl from Master of Malt – buy here
There are two big names you need to know in Japanese whisky: Nikka and Suntory. Suntory was founded back in 1923 – yep, Japan has been making whisky that long – and produces prized brands such as Hibiki and Yamazaki.
Toki is Suntory’s entry-level whisky, a blend from three distilleries across the country. And it’s one of the most affordable genuine Japanese whiskies you’ll find, period. It’s a no-brainer starting point for anyone new to the spirit.
You’ll get delicate floral and citrus notes, merging into a gentle sweetness and a distinct spicy finish. The flavour intensity and length, in my books, is way beyond its sub-£30 price point.
For whisky lovers, Toki is great sipped straight with just a few drops of water to open up its aromas. But because it’s not super splash-out, there’s no guilt if you choose to mix it into cocktails instead. Whisky sour, anyone?
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Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky
- Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky, £52.74 for 70cl from Amazon – buy here
If you’re thinking that coffee and whisky sounds like an off-putting combo, let me stop you right there – it’s not coffee. It’s Coffey.
Coffeys are one type of still (a piece of equipment used for distilling) that can be used to make spirits. It’s said that Japanese whisky pioneer Taketsuru learned to operate Coffey stills when he studied in Scotland.
In 1934 Taketsuru went on to found Nikka, a leader in Japanese whisky, along with Suntory. And this bottling, launched by the company in 2012, celebrates the particular creamy style that comes from spirits distilled in this way.
An authentic Japanese whisky, it comes with a bit of sweetness, good body and plenty of flavour concentration. I find it especially sippable served neat when you can really chew over those complex notes of orange, cinnamon and toffee.
Yamazaki 12 Year Old
- Yamazaki 12 Year Old, £135 for 70cl from Master of Malt – buy here
If you’re a whisky geek, you’ll probably know of Yamazaki – it was one of the first Japanese single malts to make its way into the UK market a couple of decades ago. In other words, it’s partly responsible for making people around the world fall in love with Japanese whisky.
And if you’ve got the cash to splash on a bottle, you’ll quickly see why it’s so popular. This whisky is as smooth as silk. It needs neither a mixer nor ice. It holds such appeal with its complex mix of dark and fresh fruit character, gentle sweetness and balanced spice.
At nearly five times the price of some others, this bottle is perhaps best kept for a special occasion gift, but if you do take the plunge, I can promise that you’ll discover a spirit that, pretty uniquely, will appeal to both beginners and connoisseurs. That’s the magic of top-end Japanese whisky: everybody thinks it’s delicious.
Drinks by the Dram Japanese Whisky Tasting Set
- Drinks by the Dram Japanese Whisky Tasting Set, £32.95 for 5 x 3cl from Amazon – buy here
Yes, I know this is a tasting set – not a single brilliant whisky – but hear me out.
Japanese whiskies, as you’ll know from this piece, are often very expensive. Some of the great ones can be tricky to get your hands on too, as more and more drinkers snap them up. However, this set of five miniature bottles – each one containing a little over a shot of whisky – gives you the opportunity to sample some real belters without a ridiculous outlay. You’re basically paying less than £7 per drink, far cheaper than these whiskies would be in a bar. If you can find them in a bar at all, that is.
A number of the bottles included, included the fruity Mars Maltage Cosmo from Shinshu Distillery and complex Miyagikyo Single Malt, retail at above the £50 mark for a full 70cl. So if you try them and really fall in love, you know that taking the full financial plunge is truly worth it. Now, that’s what I call responsible drinking.
Kyasuku
- Kyasuku, £24.99 for 70cl from Aldi – buy here
Aldi is known for its wow-factor pricing and this own-brand whisky – among the most wallet-friendly of Japanese styles on the market – is competitive indeed.
There’s a key reason the price is so friendly: this is technically a 'world whisky matured and blended in Japan’. In other words, while it’s benefitted from ageing in the Japanese climate and local know-how, it’s not actually necessarily made from spirit that originates in the country. The liquid has been finished in mizunara oak casks, though, for a uniquely Japanese touch.
Technicalities aside, this sweet and smooth whisky delivers good bang for your buck. It has crowd-pleasing notes of orange, fudge and vanilla, making it ideal if you’re new to whisky and want something easy to enjoy. It’ll work a treat in the classic Japanese Whisky Highball – whisky with plenty of ice and soda.
Togouchi Premium Blended Japanese Whisky
- Togouchi Premium Blended Japanese Whisky, £42.50 from Amazon – buy here
This blended whisky shows just how delicate and elegant Japanese-style bottlings can be. In the glass it’s so pale you could almost mistake it for white wine.
Made by Chugoku Jozo distillery, also a sake brewer, Tougouchi Premium Blended isn’t in a traditional warehouse, but rather in a tunnel outside of Hiroshima. It sounds strange, until you realise the tunnel has a constant low temperature and stable humidity – the perfect conditions for resting spirits.
Despite the overall gentle character, I still get plenty from the glass. My main takeaways are honey, pepper and light but distinct smokiness. There’s perhaps a touch of white flowers on the nose, too. Adding a bit of water really enhances the character of this whisky, so don’t hesitate to enjoy it with a glug of soda in a highball cocktail.
Nikka Days Blended Whisky
- Nikka Days Blended Whisky, £37.99 for 70cl from Amazon – buy here
A lot of Japanese-bottled whiskies go for a rather serious, old-school brand look. So that’s one way Nikka Days wins points with me. This bottle of this blended whisky is as fun, fresh and bright as the liquid inside.
As with some other whiskies here, Nikka Days is not technically a fully Japanese whisky, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth drinking. It has a generously fruity, sweet citrus nose mingled in with notes of malt, honey, vanilla and fudge. And is it ever smooth to drink! That rounded sweetness and barely perceptible alcoholic heat means it slips right down.
Just what’s needed if you’re only beginning your whisky-drinking journey and are looking for a tipple you’ll enjoy any way it’s served.
Yoichi Single Malt
- Yoichi Single Malt, £73.99 for 70cl from Amazon – buy here
Nikka’s very first distillery, Yoichi, is still one of Japan’s most celebrated. Founder Taketsuru chose Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, to base his distillery because he apparently felt the climate was most similar to Scotland’s. And, at least to my palate, there is something very reminiscent of Scotch in this whisky.
For starters there is a distinct peaty quality, absent in many other Japanese whiskies. There is more smoke and ripe orchard fruit, and a distinctly long finish, which is worth savouring.
This bottle is an investment, but given that many quality Japanese whiskies fetch hundreds or even thousands of pounds per bottle, £75 feels like a fair price for such finesse. Definitely one for sipping slowly, neat or with just a few drops of water.
Hatozaki Japanese Pure Malt Japanese Whisky
- Hatozaki Japanese Pure Malt Japanese Whisky, £42 for 70cl from Amazon – buy here
This whisky, made by the Kayiko Distillery on the coast of southern Japan, is definitely quirky. It’s a blend of spirits aged in a variety of barrels, including bourbon, sherry and classic Japanese mizunara oak.
I find it tastes rather malty and ripe-appley– a world away from caramel-noted bourbons or powerful spicy ryes. It’s another example of how Japanese whiskies can follow the lead of Scotch. On the palate that orchard fruit follows through, along with honey, pepper, warm spice and distinct malt.
The finish ends up very grown up, with a lingering smoke. That’s a whole lot going on, especially at the price point.
Why are Japanese whiskies so expensive?
In short, it’s a simple equation of supply and demand. Because Japanese whiskies have such a prestigious reputation, consumers all around the world want to drink them, and many are willing to pay a lot for the opportunity.
In the past, there has simply not been enough whisky to meet demand, and that has driven up prices. Recently Japan has increased its production significantly in an attempt to keep up, but much of this additional production comprises foreign-distilled whiskies that are only blended, aged and bottled in Japan.
New regulations will come into full effect from 2024, but look for bottles labelled ‘Japanese whisky’ if you want a whisky that has been fully made in Japan.
How to drink Japanese whisky
You can drink Japanese whisky however you like, just as would you any Scotch, Irish whiskey, bourbon or rye.
How you decide to enjoy it will depend on whether you prefer mixed drinks or neat spirits. Most inexpensive blended Japanese whiskies are delicious in mixed drinks. A cocktail known as a Whisky Highball, a blend of whisky, ice and soda, is a popular way of serving it in Japan.
If you invest in a pricey bottle or a rare single malt, you may find the best to appreciate its complex character is to drink it neat. Saying that, it can be a good idea to add just a small splash of water to the whisky. This helps to release the spirit’s aromas and flavours, making it even more delicious.
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