Japanese Whisky

The tradition of alcohol production in Japan is very old. Sake is said to have been distilled since the third century BC.

Although Japan has only been producing whisky since 1924, it now has a very large whisky industry. The production process is strongly based on the Scottish model. Masataka Taketsuru learned the craft of distilling in Scotland, and under him as master distiller in the first Yamazaki distillery built by Shinjiro Toree, the first Japanese whisky was created with this knowledge.

In the meantime, there are distilleries with a worldwide reputation. Suntory and Nikka are among them. At the latest since the first World Whiskies Awards in 2007, Japanese whisky has been among the world's best and, along with Scotland, Ireland, the USA and India, also among the greats.

Interesting to know:

If Japanese terms, city names or illustrations of famous Japanese places, such as mountains or rivers, are to be depicted on the bottle label, all ingredients must be from the country. The production process, including storage and bottling, must also take place in Japan.

In addition to ex-bourbon and various sherry casks, it is also stored in Mizunara oak casks and occasionally in Sakura (cherry) casks.

You can find all the interesting details about the production here

Single Malt

Since Scotland is the great model, the Japanese single malt also consists exclusively of barley malt and is distilled in pot stills up to a maximum of 95% alcohol. The subsequent maturation period in the barrel must also be at least three years. It is bottled with a minimum alcohol content of 40%. The single malt comes from only one distillery.

Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara 18Y-/2017
Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara 18Y-/2017
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Mars Komagatake - Shinshu (B-Ware) /2022
Mars Komagatake - Shinshu (B-Ware) /2022
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Hakushu 100th Anniversary Edition (B-Ware) 12 Years
Suntory Hakushu 100th Anniversary Edition (B-Ware) 12 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Nikka Yoichi Single Malt (B-Ware)
Nikka Yoichi Single Malt (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Yamazaki 12 Years
Suntory Yamazaki 12 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Yamazaki 100th Anniversary Edition (B-Ware) 12 Years
Suntory Yamazaki 100th Anniversary Edition (B-Ware) 12 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
The Matsui Sakura Single Cask (B-Ware)
The Matsui Sakura Single Cask (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Hakushu Distiller's Reserve (B-Ware)
Suntory Hakushu Distiller's Reserve (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara 100th Anniversary Edition 18 Years
Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara 100th Anniversary Edition 18 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Hakushu 25 Years
Suntory Hakushu 25 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Mars Komagatake - Shinshu /2022
Mars Komagatake - Shinshu /2022
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Yamazaki - old design 18 Years
Suntory Yamazaki - old design 18 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT

Blended Whisky

Here Japan offers a speciality! Blending whisky - that is, creating a special blend - is considered a high art. It is the balanced taste of a Japanese blend that appeals to the Japanese. In hierarchy and prestige, the blendmaster is above the distiller. A Japanese blend uses 10 to 40% malt whisky, the rest is grain whisky.

The Japanese love their blend - in summer they enjoy it with lots of cold water, even with food. And in winter, it is sometimes mixed with warm and even hot water to make a kind of grog.

Hatozaki Pure Malt (B-Ware)
Hatozaki Pure Malt (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Kamiki Intense Wood (B-Ware)
Kamiki Intense Wood (B-Ware)
0,5/ l · incl.  VAT
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Shinobu 15 Years
Shinobu 15 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Akkeshi Taisho /2022
Akkeshi Taisho /2022
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Shinobu 10 Years
Shinobu 10 Years
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Kamiki Intense Wood
Kamiki Intense Wood
0,5/ l · incl.  VAT
Kamiki Batch No 005
Kamiki Batch No 005
0,5/ l · incl.  VAT
Shinobu Pure Malt (B-Ware)
Shinobu Pure Malt (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt (B-Ware)
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Mars Kasei
Mars Kasei
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT

Grain Whisky

In addition to a small amount of malt, various other grains such as wheat or maize are used. The grains are mainly blended and are only very rarely bottled as single grains.

Nikka Coffey Grain
Nikka Coffey Grain
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Nikka Coffey Malt
Nikka Coffey Malt
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory Chita (B-Ware)
Suntory Chita (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Suntory The Chita
Suntory The Chita
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Nikka Coffey Malt (B-Ware)
Nikka Coffey Malt (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT
Nikka Coffey Grain (B-Ware)
Nikka Coffey Grain (B-Ware)
0,7/ l · incl.  VAT

Japanese whisky and Fukushima

It has been over ten years since the nuclear accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan! If you are interested in the topic, watch the video and read our article from back then.