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.
What Is Japanese 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.
The Best Japanese Whiskies to Try This Year
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.
The Yamazaki 12
No Japanese whisky list is complete without The Yamazaki 12. Made at the OG Japanese distillery, this single malt whisky is matured for at least twelve full years in a combination of American, Spanish, and Japanese Mizunara oak. The result is a complex, highly nuanced whisky that begins with a nose of candied orange peels, toffee, vanilla, orchard fruits, and oak. The palate is a symphony of toasted coconut, orange peels, vanilla beans, butter caramel, and rich Mizunara oak.
Buy: $215Mars Iwai 45
Not all Japanese whiskies are single malts. Mars Iwai 45 is a well-made blended whisky made from a mash of 70% corn and 30% malted barley. It’s matured in ex-bourbon casks between two and five years. This creates a memorable whisky that starts with a nose of vanilla beans, citrus peels, toasted coconut, brown sugar, and oaky wood. The palate continues this trend with notes of orange peels, sweet corn, toffee, orchard fruits, and chocolate. The finishing is warming and leaves you wanting more.
Buy: $86Nikka From the Barrel
First released in 1985, this blended whisky is well-known for its balanced, complex flavor profile and high alcohol content (51.4%). It’s created by blending over 100 different batches of malt and grain whiskies. The blend is then finished for a few more months in oak barrels before being bottled. If you take time to nose it before sipping, you’ll be greeted with aromas of charred oak, vanilla beans, honeysuckle, citrus peels, and gentle wintry spices. The palate is a mix of sticky toffee, toasted vanilla beans, citrus fruits, and light spices. It’s fruity, oaky, sweet, and warming.
Buy: $80Hakushu 12
Like Yamazaki, Hakushu is a sought-after Suntory brand. If you want to start with this distillery, Hakushu 12 is the best beginning point. It’s known for its sweet, smoky flavor thanks to the use of unpeated malt aged in hogshead barrels, unpeated malt aged in sherry casks, and peated malt aged in ex-bourbon barrels. This 12-year-old expression is known for its fragrant nose of vanilla beans, candied nuts, chocolate, caramelized sugar, and gentle smoke. The palate continues this trend with notes of candied orange peels, honey, caramel, oak, and light peaty smoke throughout.
Buy: $210Hibiki Japanese Harmony
With a name like Japanese Harmony, you should have a pretty good idea about what you’re in for when you open this bottle of blended Japanese whisky. The brand launched in 1989 to commemorate Suntory’s 90th birthday, and this expression is a blend of hand-selected malt and grain whiskies. Perfect for sipping neat or mixing into a whisky highball or your favorite whisky-based cocktail, it’s known for its nose of sandalwood, citrus peels, honey, cereal grains, vanilla, and oak. Drinking it neat reveals notes of chocolate, honey, candied orange peels, raisins, and oak. The finish is long, sweet, and very memorable.
Buy: $85More Lifestyle
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