Even 10 or 20 years in the past, Japanese whisky was one thing of a distinct segment amongst a really small set of aficionados. The mere existence of Japanese whisky is likely to be a shock to the mainstream drinker, regardless of the most effective of it being as advanced and refined as something being put out by the Scots. As we speak, Japanese whisky-makers discover themselves held within the highest regard around the globe, laden with awards and struggling to maintain up with demand.
Japanese whisky is deeply influenced by Scotch whisky in some ways, however has grown and developed into one thing that may be very a lot its personal beast. As with scotch, there are variations between the output of distilleries that replicate the gear, strategies and native local weather. Distillers play with course of in a means that many Scottish operations could not, experimenting with yeasts and fermentation instances to nice impact.
Nonetheless, to generalise, Japanese whisky tends towards precision and complexity with out getting too heavy. Finishes, even when intense, don’t linger on the palate in the identical means as an Islay may. Fairly a number of of the whiskies listed right here shift by means of a number of totally different units of flavours as you sip them, with savoury notes you don’t see elsewhere. Nearer to scotch than bourbon or rye, they run the gamut from the super-light to intense brooders. Flavour profiles will embrace hints of bitterness, too, which are putting when first tasted, however sit neatly throughout the blenders’ intent.
Right here, our drinks professional Richard Davie has chosen the most effective Japanese whisky to purchase, protecting a spread of types and costs from £30 to an funding £177, learn on for our in-depth evaluations. For over 400 purchaser’s guides, go to our evaluations part and discover style checks of gin, vodka, tequila, rum, whisky and far more.
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Greatest Japanese whisky to purchase at a look
- Greatest well-known Japanese whisky: Nikki Days whisky, £28.60
- Greatest gentle Japanese whisky: The Chita Suntory whisky, £68
- Greatest intense Japanese whisky: Taketsuru pure malt, Nikka whisky, £62
- Greatest luxurious Japanese whisky: Hakushu 12-year-old single malt, Suntory whisky, £177
- Greatest Japanese whisky for Scotch lovers: Mars Maltage ‘Cosmo’ whisky, £55.95
- Greatest Japanese whisky for whisky newbies: From The Barrel, Nikka whisky, £39.99
- Greatest blended Japanese whisky: Hibiki Japanese Concord, Suntory whisky, £69.95
- Greatest traditional Japanese-style whisky: Yoichi single malt, Nikka whisky, £74.80
- Greatest for pairing with meals: Miyagikyo single malt, Nikka whisky, £73.99
Greatest Japanese whisky to purchase 2022
Nikka Days whisky
Greatest well-known Japanese whisky
ABV: 40%
Ranking: 4/5
Nikka dominates the Japanese whisky market. This easy-drinking blended whisky from their in depth vary is gentle in aroma and flavour, making it a superb choice for newcomers to the whisky world, or for lovers of cocktails who, with this, can serve a highball with a punch.
Learn our full Nikka Days assessment.
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The Chita, Suntory whisky
Greatest gentle Japanese whisky
ABV: 43%
Ranking: 4/5
Together with Nikka, Suntory is among the most-loved and well-known Japanese whisky manufacturers. Working from quite a few distilleries, this whisky flies the flag for its Chita operation. This grain whisky is lighter and extra delicate than different Japanese whiskies in our record. It is a fruity spirit with unripe banana flavours current in its skinny, intense sweetness.
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Learn our full assessment of The Chita by Suntory
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Taketsuru pure malt, Nikka whisky
Greatest intense Japanese whisky
ABV: 43%
Ranking: 4/5
In contrast to the Nikka Days whisky, this doesn’t map throughout fairly so merely to the extra acquainted Scottish whiskies that Japanese whiskies are sometimes related to. It tastes intense at first sip, with tobaco and smokiness current, and finishes to disclose a savoury, virtually bitter observe. This one is nice in an quaint cocktail.
Learn our full assessment of Taketsuru whisky by Nikka
Hakushu 12-year-old single malt, Suntory whisky
Greatest luxurious Japanese whisky
ABV: 45%
Ranking: 5/5
Made at Suntory’s Hakushu distillery, this maturation is refined with cool natural notes. On the palate, that coolness provides solution to a clean alcohol heat, mint notes and a few lemon that mingles with the sweetness of the malt. It is full-bodied with slightly creaminess, too, making this an excellent whisky to serve neat in a dram.
Learn our full assessment of Hakushu 12 whisky by Suntory.
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Mars Maltage ‘Cosmo’ whisky
Greatest Japanese whisky for Scotch lovers
ABV: 43%
Ranking: 4/5
Mars Shinsu is a heritage distillery that is had a sophisticated journey, closing a number of instances alongside the best way, though it is loved a resurgence in recent times. Recognized for very fascinating particular editions, this ‘Cosmo’ distillation has butterscotch on the nostril and stewed fruit flavours. Count on a profile similar to a conventional scotch.
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From The Barrel, Nikka whisky
Greatest Japanese whisky for whisky newbies
ABV: 51.4%
Ranking: 4.5/5
A flagship blended whisky from Nikka that you could have seen in bars and supermarkets. From The Barrel does what you think about Nikka would really like for a standard-bearer of their whiskies, exhibiting most of the flavour parts in an approachable means, with out sacrificing complexity.
Learn our full assessment of From The Barrel whisky by Nikka.
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Hibiki Japanese Concord, Suntory whisky
Greatest blended Japanese whisky
ABV: 43%
Ranking: 4.5/5
A blended whisky from Suntory, this pulls in malt whisky from their Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, and grain whisky from Chita. It has a fancy however gentle nostril, with crimson fruit and apple flavours and a marshmallow candy observe. Take pleasure in with an ice dice as a sundowner.
Learn our full assessment of Hibiki Japanese Concord whisky by Suntory.
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Yoichi single malt, Nikka whisky
Greatest traditional Japanese-style whisky
ABV: 45%
Ranking: 5/5
You possibly can virtually style the Scottish affect on this dram, however Nikka’s Yoichi has a distinctly Japanese flavour profile. On the nostril there’s mild peat smoke and caramelised citrus fruits, and the palate carries the peat and fruit by means of, with melon and recent apple being probably the most notable flavours. Total, that is certainly one of Japan’s prime whiskies. It is an ideal introduction to the area’s providing because it exemplifies its finest qualities.
Learn our full assessment of Yoichi whisky by Nikka.
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Miyagikyo single malt, Nikka whisky
Greatest for pairing with meals
ABV: 45%
Ranking: 5/5
The no-age Miyagikyo is a superb showcase for the Nikka distillery. The nostril is intense with out being heavy, with oodles of cereal, hints of candyfloss, banana and crisp apple. The palate exhibits a continuation, with delicate grass and floral notes earlier than a full barley-malt sweetness. A dram of this is able to pair nicely with fruitcake.
Learn our full assessment of Miyagikyo whisky by Nikka.
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Japanese whisky: a fast historical past
The origins of this spirit could be traced again 100 years. The Japanese have hyperlinks with Scotland going again to the mid-Nineteenth century, with college students despatched throughout in an effort to be taught scientific and engineering improvements because the nation sought to modernise itself. This apply was nonetheless going robust when, in 1918, a younger chemist named Masataka Taketsuru was placed on a ship to Glasgow to discover ways to make whisky.
Returning two years later, he would change into probably the one most important determine in Japanese whisky. The corporate that had sponsored his journey, Settsu Shuzo, had drawn again from making a correct whisky distillery, so Taketsuru as an alternative spent his time making an ersatz substitute for them. Shifting on in 1924, he joined Kotobukiya (now Suntory) making Japan’s earliest recognisable single malt on the nation’s oldest whisky distillery, Yamazaki, in Osaka.
Then, in 1934, he based his personal firm, now generally known as Nikka, and arrange the Yoichi distillery on the northern island of Hokkaido. The equal is likely to be if Glenfiddich’s authentic grasp blender had gone on to discovered Glenlivet after a false begin with Budweiser. Between the 2 behemoths of Suntory and Nikka, you may have a majority of the whisky made in Japan and in the stores within the UK.
With far larger consideration being paid to Japanese whisky, followers are caught in a little bit of a bind. On the one hand, a swift rise in demand for a drink that may take upward of a decade to mature correctly has put stress on inventory ranges, with commensurate worth rises and whiskies of a selected classic eliminated in favour of ‘No Age Assertion’ (NAS) releases.
Whisky collectors and merchants are admittedly a distinct segment, and one most likely finest not sucked into, however when you occurred to choose up a Japanese single malt a decade in the past, you is likely to be somewhat stunned on the distinction in worth. Alternatively, the vary of Japanese whisky that you’ll find within the UK is broader and extra simply accessible.
Flagship manufacturers just like the Nikka’s From The Barrel could be seen in supermarkets, alongside scotch, bourbon and the unending panoply of gins. While there should not at the moment equal price range choices, there are very respectable whiskies that don’t price the earth.
One factor to concentrate on is that Japan doesn’t have the identical laws surrounding strategies and necessities for calling a drink a whisky and calling a whisky Japanese. As such, there are numerous blended whiskies utilizing Scottish base spirit which will or could not have been aged in Japan, and it’s apparently potential to see aged shōchū being bought as whisky within the USA. Fortunately, the latter does not appear to have made its means over right here.
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This assessment was final up to date in October 2022. If in case you have any questions, recommendations for future evaluations or spot something that has modified in worth or availability please get in contact at goodfoodwebsite@speedy.co.uk.
