The 20 Best Whiskies from Japan
What does define a great whisky? Why some whiskies stand over the rest? What makes a dram the best?
So hard questions... but let me make some ideas clear: older doesn't mean better and more expensive usually doesn't mean better neither. So, this list of delightful bottled pleasures is crafted by using the rating I have assigned to each of them when I have tasted them.
I, over all, love young peated whiskies, mid-age sherried monsters, old bourbon casks whiskies and very old grain whiskies. So, don't get surprised if the list shows this personal preference. You can check Recommended list for a community-built list of best drams.
Without more delays, here is the list of the best drams available right now. You may want to see this list with all-time best whiskies.
20 Best whiskies from Japan
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94
Karuizawa 48 Year Old 1964 Cask 3603
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Gorgeous! This Karuizawa has one of the best sherried noses that I have ever seen. Not a whisky for newcomers, it needs time and lots of attention to disclose it greatness. The more it is on the glass the more I like it”
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91
Nikka Taketsuru 17 year
Japan Blended Malt Whisky
“Delightful! I can't express with words the fruity, honey and spices torrent that this japanese blended malt delivers.”
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91
Suntory Yamazaki 12 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Awesome japanese whisky on the budget range. Really love how complex it is and its fruity character. There are not many Scotch whiskies so good at this price”
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90
Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky Japanese Grain Whisky
Japan Grain whisky
“Incredible stuff! Smells old and bottled at a generous strength. Simply awesome... but no clue about what I am tasting, maybe Clan Denny dram?”
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90
Nikka Taketsuru 21 year
Japan Blended Whisky
“Superb stuff by Nikka! This Taketsuru made with whiskies from Yoichi and Miyagikyo is really delicious”
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90
Nikka Yoichi 12 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“This whisky grows in the glass. Just give it five minutes on the glass and enjoy it. The best whisky of the Yoichi range.”
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90
Suntory Hibiki 17 year
Japan Blended Whisky
“Mindblowing Japanese blended whisky! I wasn't ready for something so good. Ordering right now”
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90
Suntory Yamazaki 18 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Superb sherried stuff. Perfect cask with a delightful note of sulphur, and no, I am not drunk! I love this whisky!”
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90
Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel Japanese Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Amazing Yamazaki with lots of floral and spices notes. Love it”
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89
Hakushu 12 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Nice but a hell more subtle than Yamazaki. Although Hakushu single malt is supposed to be peated I get no peat on this one”
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89
Hakushu Heavily Peated
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“A real whisky experience from Japan with lots of fruits and spices over a delicate peat layer.”
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89
Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve
Japan Blended Malt Whisky
“A bit woody but it is a really interesting whisky from Japan which something that remind me of Wasabi.”
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89
Karuizawa Spirit of Asama / 48% Japanese Single Malt Whisky
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Impressive sherried Japanese legend. The cask strength version must be scary!”
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89
Nikka Miyagikyo 12 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Intense, with a good amount of salt and peat. Really maritime whisky.”
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89
Nikka Miyagikyo 15 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Rather interesting nose with a great taste of honey and peat. Lots of spices swimming in this whisky.”
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89
Nikka Pure Malt White
Japan Blended Malt Whisky
“At first I didn’t notice the peat, but on a second tasting I keep wondering how I wasn’t able to nose it. Peaty, floral, grainy, powerful. Very good whisky.”
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89
Nikka Single Malt Yoichi 10 year
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Peated Speyside like style. Really good whisky from Japan. Marvelous.”
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88
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88
Hakushu Bourbon Barrel Japanese Single Malt Whisky
Japan Single Malt Whisky
“Hakushu is supposed to be a peated dram but there is no trace of peat on this one. It is more fruity and woody than its Yamazaki partner”
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88
Nikka Taketsuru 12 year
Japan Blended Malt Whisky
“Fruity nose and a floral dry palate on this Taketsuru 12 years old by Nikka”
Buy on Master of Malt for £9,999.95
Buy on The Drink Shop for £72.91
Buy on Abbey Whisky for £73.75
Buy on Whisky Online for £76.50
Buy on The Whisky Barrel for £83.94
Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £45.15
Buy on Hard to Find Whisky for £70.95
Master of Malt
What do you think?