In April 2021, the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Affiliation (JSLMA) introduced a brand new set of labeling requirements dictating what can and might’t be referred to as “Japanese Whisky.” The steerage is an settlement among the many greater than 50 producers that make up the affiliation quite than regulation, and types got a transitional interval of three years to verify all their labels and present releases complied with the brand new requirements.
Provenance and elements type the center of the steerage, which prevents producers from importing whiskey, bottling it in Japan, then promoting it labeled as Japanese whisky. Nor will they be capable of promote aged, 100-percent rice distillates as whisky — regardless that they qualify as such in international locations like the USA.
That’s to not say that some Japanese manufacturers haven’t continued to supply whiskeys from completely different nations and launch it underneath their very own label, usually blended with proprietary distillate. These so-called “world” whiskies stay available on the market, whereas new high-quality releases within the unofficial class proceed to reach on U.S. retail cabinets.
In actual fact, one such world whisky wowed us in a latest tasting, together with greater than a dozen single malt, single grain, and blended releases. Wish to study extra? Listed below are 15 of one of the best bottles of Japanese whisky to drink proper now.
(Please observe that costs listed below are MSRPs supplied by producers and/or importers and distributors. Given each the recognition and relative rarity of Japanese whisky within the U.S. market, precise retail costs could also be considerably greater in some circumstances.)
Why You Ought to Belief VinePair
All year long, VinePair conducts dozens of tastings for our “Purchase This Booze” product roundups, highlighting one of the best bottles the world over’s hottest wine and spirits classes.
As a part of this work, VinePair’s tasting and editorial workers pattern hundreds of bottles yearly. This helps us preserve a finger on the heart beat of what’s new and thrilling. Crucially, it additionally gives us with the context wanted to tell apart the merely good from the really nice — whether or not from a high quality or worth for cash perspective, or each. On the finish of the 12 months, we think about each bottle sampled and spherical up the cream of the crop in our annual 50 finest wine and spirits lists.
VinePair’s mission is to supply a transparent, dependable supply of data for drinkers, offering an outline relevant to day-to-day shopping for and ingesting.
Study extra about VinePair’s tastings and critiques division right here.
How We Style
We consider in tasting all merchandise as our readers sometimes would: with full information of the producer and — importantly — worth. Our tastings are subsequently not carried out blind.
For this Japanese whisky roundup, all expressions had been sampled in Glencairn glasses and allowed to relaxation for a couple of minutes previous to tasting. We then evaluated the aromas, flavors, texture, and end of every whiskey.
How We Compiled the Record
So as to present our readers with probably the most complete and totally examined listing of one of the best Japanese whiskies, VinePair invited producers, distributors, and PR companies engaged on their behalf to ship samples for consideration. These bottles had been submitted freed from cost — producers didn’t pay to submit nor did VinePair pay for the merchandise. All had been requested with the clear understanding that submission doesn’t assure inclusion within the closing listing.
Not solely would such an settlement contradict our editorial ethics and samples coverage, it merely wouldn’t be potential to incorporate every little thing we obtained. For this Japanese whisky roundup, we tasted 31 new submissions and in addition re-tasted greater than a dozen bottles that had been both despatched to VinePair all year long for consideration or that had ranked extremely in prior iterations of this listing.
Throughout tasting, we assigned a rating to every product on a 100-point scale based mostly upon the standard and depth of its aromas, flavors, texture, and end. Then we reviewed all scores and compiled an editorially pushed listing that meets our standards for the 15 finest Japanese whiskies to purchase proper now. It’s vital to notice that these usually are not the 15-highest-scoring Japanese whiskies we tasted this 12 months. As a substitute, this listing showcases one of the best bottles throughout each worth and for each situation — as a result of whereas worth is totally goal, “affordability” just isn’t.
The Finest Japanese Whisky Beneath $50
Toki Suntory Whisky
A staple at bars and retailers throughout the nation, Toki is each an approachable and reasonably priced intro to Japanese whisky. The mix combines grain whisky from Suntory’s Chita distillery with malt whiskies from the model’s Hakushu (peated) and Yamazaki distilleries. Vivid and fruity, with a touch of caramel richness, this is a superb highball whisky and excellent for shaken summery cocktails.
Value: $35
Score: 88
The Finest Japanese Whisky Beneath $75
Hatozaki Small Batch Pure Malt Whisky
The definition of “pure malt” lies someplace between blended whiskey and single malt. Produced solely from malted barley, it incorporates distillates from a couple of distillery. On this case, the composition is a mix of 5- to 6-year-old single malts aged in bourbon, sherry, and Mizunara casks. Mild in shade and malt-forward, whiffs of damp earth meet caramel on the nostril. The sunshine, spritely palate makes it excellent fodder for highballs with a citrus or apple garnish.
Common worth: $57
Score: 90
Kaiyo The Signature 43% Japanese Whisky
Kaiyo isn’t afraid to experiment with maturation and all the model’s releases spend not less than three months at sea getting older in Mizunara oak barrels. This bottling spends three years and 6 years getting older on land both aspect of that voyage, as soon as once more in Mizunara casks. The oak lends a perfumed character to the nostril, whereas effectively rounded fruit and malt notes set the tone on the palate.
Common worth: $65
Score: 91
Tenjaku Whisky Pure Malt
Accessible in the USA since late 2020, this pure malt is double copper pot distilled and aged for 5 to 6 years in closely charred Kentucky bourbon barrels. Contemporary apple aromas are matched by extra decadent notes of figs and prunes, resulting in a balanced, rounded palate. Whereas its alcohol content material is mild (40 % ABV) so far as trendy whisky requirements go, the palate has a wealthy weight and brims with luscious caramel notes.
Common worth: $70
Score: 91
The Finest Japanese Whisky Beneath $100
Akashi Goju Sherry Cask
This non-age-stated expression sees Akashi’s roughly three 12 months previous blended whisky aged for an additional two years in sherry casks and bottled at 50 % ABV, which is 20 proof factors greater than that commonplace mix. Sherry affect drives its profile from nostril to complete, within the type of savory, oxidative notes. These arrive with notable depth due to the ABV, which additionally elongates its dry, nutty end.
Common worth: $75
Score: 92
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt & Grain 111 Proof
A mix of 5 12 months previous single malt from Ichiro’s Chichibu distillery, together with malt and grain whiskies from Scotland, Eire, Canada, and America, that is technically a “World Whisky” quite than a purely Japanese launch. Not like prior white and blue label releases from the model, this mix consists of peated malt, which brings new layers to the advanced, non-chill-filtered mix. At 55.5 % ABV, it’s additionally the strongest launch within the line thus far.
Common worth: $90
Score: 93
Fuji Single Grain Japanese Whisky
Japan’s most well-known mountain not solely lends its title to this model, however snowmelt water from the volcano can be harnessed in each stage of this single grain whisky’s manufacturing. Technically a mix of three completely different types of grain whisky — impressed by American, Canadian, and Scottish distillates — it opens with mild and recent fruit and floral notes. The palate shares an analogous summery profile; vivid and energetic with a shocking and nice depth of taste.
Common worth: $95
Score: 92
The Matsui Single Malt Sakura Cask Whisky
This non-age-statement single malt undergoes a double maturation course of, with the primary interval spent in ex-bourbon casks and the second in bourbon barrels whose heads had been changed with sakura wooden. Its mild, fruity, and floral aromas level to this nonetheless being a really younger single malt, however it’s not missing focus of taste, nor will it go away you craving for extra time in barrel.
Common worth: $95
Score: 92
The Finest Japanese Whisky Over $100
Honkaku Spirits Takamine 8 12 months Outdated Koji Whiskey
This whisky is known as after the late Nineteenth-century professor Jokichi Takamine who patented a whiskey-making course of utilizing the normal Japanese sake brewing method, koji. Fittingly, this expression makes use of the “malting” microbe previous to fermentation and distillation. Aged in new American oak in addition to ex-bourbon casks, it opens with a full of life, rum-like molasses aroma. The palate continues in a equally vivid and energetic method, with stone fruit preserves and peppery spice rising on the end. For those who’re trying to splurge, and fortunate sufficient to return throughout one of many roughly 1500 bottles launched, the 20-12 months expression of this whiskey can be a show-stopper, incomes third place on VinePair’s listing of 50 finest spirits of 2024.
Common worth: $100
Score: 93
Kanosuke Double Distillery Blended Japanese Whisky
Not like typical blends, which mix malt and grain whiskies, this launch is made totally from barley. A frivolously peated single malt part from the Kanosuke distillery kinds a part of the mix, whereas the close by Hioki distillery contributes the remaining malted and unmalted barley distillate. In the meantime, the getting older routine combines new American oak, re-charred rice shochu casks, sherry casks, and ex-bourbon casks. On paper, that’s loads of completely different parts and contributing components; within the glass, it is a harmonious and expressive whisky that opens with distinct aromas of mocha and chocolate. Brambly fruit and candy vanilla observe, whereas the palate is malty and earthy, with a daring, spicy end.
Common worth: $125
Score: 94
Maen Japanese Whisky 8-12 months-Outdated
Maen’s 8-year-old launch is a blended pure malt that spends the whole lot of its getting older interval in former bourbon casks, resulting in a daring, wealthy profile. Vanilla and wooden spices open the nostril, adopted by peach and apple excessive tones. The palate is equally dense, whereas the introduction of earthy, charred notes brings welcome complexity, although maybe not fairly as a lot as you’d hope for at this worth. Nonetheless, it’s a stable sip and can attraction to American whiskey drinkers trying to department out.
Common worth: $125
Score: 92
The Hakushu Single Malt Aged 12 Years
That is the youngest and most obtainable expression from Suntory’s Hakushu line. Distilled on the Hakushu facility, nestled in wooded mountains some 100 miles west of Tokyo, this whisky is notable for its delicate and ethereal smokiness. It has clear, pure orchard and stone fruit aromas, and a savory inexperienced tea observe on the palate that performs splendidly with the trace of peat.
Common worth: $150
Score: 95
The Yamazaki Single Malt Aged 12 Years
Just like the Hakushu, that is the youngest and most-available expression of the storied Yamazaki whisky line. Produced at Suntory’s first and oldest distillery, its aromas showcase the incense character of Mizunara oak, whereas additionally providing orchard, tropical, and citrus fruits. The feel is creamy, the flavors balanced, and the end prolonged and intense, with an gratifying spice.
Common worth: $150
Score: 95
Mars The Y.A. #03
That is the third version from Mars’ pretty new “Y.A.” collection. The abbreviated title stands for “Yakushima Getting older,” whereas the road itself goals to showcase the distinctive affect of maturing pure malt on Japan’s Yakushima Island. Aged for 4 to 6 years in tropical, humid situations, this frivolously peated whisky brims with fruity and floral notes, with hints of delicate caramel and delicate smoke lingering beneath.
Common worth: $165
Score: 94
Nikka Yoichi Single Malt 10-12 months-Outdated
After practically a decade’s absence, Nikka reintroduced age statements to its Yoichi line final 12 months, maybe signaling that shares of aged Japanese whisky are returning to sustainable ranges. Whereas this was initially the “entry-level” of the road, Nikka plans to launch it yearly in restricted portions (presumably) till it could actually turn into a everlasting expression once more. For these fortunate sufficient to snag a bottle — they continue to be available on the market, even out there at giant retailers like Whole Wine — count on an explosion of malt, earth, inexperienced and stone fruits on the nostril, and a twig of saline. Peat will command the palate with dried fruits and charred wooden taking part in an obedient second fiddle.
Common worth: $175
Score: 94
FAQs
How do I discover reasonably priced Japanese whisky?
For suggestions for excellent, reasonably priced bottles of Japanese whisky, try the following pointers from the consultants.
How did Japanese whisky turn into so common?
The provision of beloved manufacturers Suntory and Nikka, in addition to the Japanese Highball development, could also be to thank for Japanese whisky’s rise to recognition.
