The Best Japanese Whiskies to Try This Year

If you’re a whisk(e)y drinker (specifically a single malt Scotch whisky drinker) and you don’t have a few bottles of Japanese whisky, what exactly are you waiting for? If you didn’t know it already, Japanese whisky isn’t a hard-to-find, niche spirit. There are currently around 100 whisky-producing distilleries in Japan. Some of the more well-known brands include Suntory brands Yamazaki and Hakushu, as well as the popular Nikka Whisky.

For those new to this type of whisky, here’s a little refresher. Like Scotch whisky can only be made in Scotland and bourbon can only be made in the US, to be called a Japanese whisky (you guessed it), the spirit must be made in Japan. Most similar in overall aroma and flavor to single malt Scotch whisky, Japanese whisky is most often made from malted barley. Like Scotch whisky, it’s often matured in oak barrels or casks that previously held sherry or bourbon.

There’s a reason why Japanese whisky so closely resembles Scotch whisky. Back in the 1800s, a man named Masataka Taketsuru visited Scotland to learn the techniques needed to distill whisky. He went on to help found the now-famous Yamazaki Distillery in 1924. In the century since, while it maintains some similarities with Scotch whisky, Japanese whisky has evolved into its own nuanced, complex, specific whisky style. 

Now that you’ve learned a little about the history of Japanese whisky, it’s time to find some to drink. Fear not; you don’t have to peruse online retailers while reading countless reviews or even meander through the aisles at your local liquor store with jaw agape, unsure of where to start. The work has been done for you. Below, you’ll find some of the best Japanese whiskies to try this year. Some are single malts perfect for sipping neat, while others are blends designed to be mixed into whisky highballs and other drinks. Keep scrolling to see them all.