In April 2021, the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA) announced a new set of labeling standards dictating what can and can’t be called “Japanese Whisky.” The guidance is an agreement among the more than 50 producers that make up the association rather than law, and brands were given a transitional period of three years to make sure all their labels and current releases complied with the new standards.
Provenance and ingredients form the heart of the guidance, which prevents producers from importing whiskey, bottling it in Japan, then selling it labeled as Japanese whisky. Nor will they be able to sell aged, 100-percent rice distillates as whisky — even though they qualify as such in countries like the United States.
That’s not to say that some Japanese brands haven’t continued to source whiskeys from different nations and release it under their own label, often blended with proprietary distillate. These so-called “world” whiskies remain on the market, while new high-quality releases in the unofficial category continue to arrive on U.S. retail shelves.
In fact, one such world whisky wowed us in a recent tasting, along with more than a dozen single malt, single grain, and blended releases. Want to learn more? Here are 15 of the best bottles of Japanese whisky to drink right now.
(Please note that prices listed here are MSRPs provided by producers and/or importers and distributors. Given both the popularity and relative rarity of Japanese whisky in the U.S. market, actual retail prices may be significantly higher in some cases.)
Throughout the year, VinePair conducts dozens of tastings for our “Buy This Booze” product roundups, highlighting the best bottles across the world’s most popular wine and spirits categories.
As part of this work, VinePair’s tasting and editorial staff sample thousands of bottles every year. This helps us keep a finger on the pulse of what’s new and exciting. Crucially, it also provides us with the context needed to distinguish the simply good from the truly great — whether from a quality or value for money perspective, or both. At the end of the year, we consider every bottle sampled and round up the cream of the crop in our annual 50 best wine and spirits lists.
VinePair’s mission is to offer a clear, reliable source of information for drinkers, providing an overview applicable to day-to-day buying and drinking.
Learn more about VinePair’s tastings and reviews department here.
We believe in tasting all products as our readers typically would: with full knowledge of the producer and — importantly — price. Our tastings are therefore not conducted blind.
For this Japanese whisky roundup, all expressions were sampled in Glencairn glasses and allowed to rest for a few minutes prior to tasting. We then evaluated the aromas, flavors, texture, and finish of each whiskey.
In order to provide our readers with the most comprehensive and thoroughly tested list of the best Japanese whiskies, VinePair invited producers, distributors, and PR firms working on their behalf to send samples for consideration. These bottles were submitted free of charge — producers didn’t pay to submit nor did VinePair pay for the products. All were requested with the clear understanding that submission does not guarantee inclusion in the final list.
Not only would such an agreement contradict our editorial ethics and samples policy, it simply wouldn’t be possible to include everything we received. For this Japanese whisky roundup, we tasted 31 new submissions and also re-tasted more than a dozen bottles that were either sent to VinePair throughout the year for consideration or that had ranked highly in prior iterations of this list.
During tasting, we assigned a score to each product on a 100-point scale based upon the quality and intensity of its aromas, flavors, texture, and finish. Then we reviewed all scores and compiled an editorially driven list that meets our criteria for the 15 best Japanese whiskies to buy right now. It’s important to note that these are not the 15-highest-scoring Japanese whiskies we tasted this year. Instead, this list showcases the best bottles across every price and for every scenario — because while price is completely objective, “affordability” is not.
A staple at bars and retailers across the country, Toki is both an approachable and affordable intro to Japanese whisky. The blend combines grain whisky from Suntory’s Chita distillery with malt whiskies from the brand’s Hakushu (peated) and Yamazaki distilleries. Bright and fruity, with a hint of caramel richness, this is an excellent highball whisky and ideal for shaken summery cocktails.
Price: $35
Rating: 88
The definition of “pure malt” lies somewhere between blended whiskey and single malt. Produced only from malted barley, it contains distillates from more than one distillery. In this case, the composition is a blend of 5- to 6-year-old single malts aged in bourbon, sherry, and Mizunara casks. Light in color and malt-forward, whiffs of damp earth meet caramel on the nose. The light, spritely palate makes it perfect fodder for highballs with a citrus or apple garnish.
Average price: $57
Rating: 90
Kaiyo isn’t afraid to experiment with maturation and all of the brand’s releases spend at least three months at sea aging in Mizunara oak barrels. This bottling spends three years and six years aging on land either side of that voyage, once again in Mizunara casks. The oak lends a perfumed character to the nose, while well rounded fruit and malt notes set the tone on the palate.
Average price: $65
Rating: 91
Available in the United States since late 2020, this pure malt is double copper pot distilled and aged for five to six years in heavily charred Kentucky bourbon barrels. Fresh apple aromas are matched by more decadent notes of figs and prunes, leading to a balanced, rounded palate. While its alcohol content is light (40 percent ABV) as far as modern whisky standards go, the palate has a rich weight and brims with luscious caramel notes.
Average price: $70
Rating: 91
This non-age-stated expression sees Akashi’s roughly three year old blended whisky aged for a further two years in sherry casks and bottled at 50 percent ABV, which is 20 proof points higher than that standard blend. Sherry influence drives its profile from nose to finish, in the form of savory, oxidative notes. Those arrive with notable intensity thanks to the ABV, which also elongates its dry, nutty finish.
Average price: $75
Rating: 92
A blend of five year old single malt from Ichiro’s Chichibu distillery, along with malt and grain whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and America, this is technically a “World Whisky” rather than a purely Japanese release. Unlike prior white and blue label releases from the brand, this blend includes peated malt, which brings new layers to the complex, non-chill-filtered blend. At 55.5 percent ABV, it’s also the strongest release in the line to date.
Average price: $90
Rating: 93
Japan’s most famous mountain not only lends its name to this brand, but snowmelt water from the volcano is also harnessed in every stage of this single grain whisky’s production. Technically a blend of three different styles of grain whisky — inspired by American, Canadian, and Scottish distillates — it opens with light and fresh fruit and floral notes. The palate shares a similar summery profile; bright and energetic with a surprising and pleasant depth of flavor.
Average price: $95
Rating: 92
This non-age-statement single malt undergoes a double maturation process, with the first period spent in ex-bourbon casks and the second in bourbon barrels whose heads were replaced with sakura wood. Its light, fruity, and floral aromas point to this still being a very young single malt, but it’s not lacking concentration of flavor, nor will it leave you yearning for more time in barrel.
Average price: $95
Rating: 92
This whisky is named after the late 19th-century professor Jokichi Takamine who patented a whiskey-making process using the traditional Japanese sake brewing technique, koji. Fittingly, this expression utilizes the “malting” microbe prior to fermentation and distillation. Aged in new American oak as well as ex-bourbon casks, it opens with a lively, rum-like molasses aroma. The palate continues in a similarly bright and energetic manner, with stone fruit preserves and peppery spice emerging on the finish. If you’re looking to splurge, and lucky enough to come across one of the roughly 1500 bottles released, the 20-Year expression of this whiskey is also a show-stopper, earning third place on VinePair’s list of 50 best spirits of 2024.
Average price: $100
Rating: 93
Unlike typical blends, which combine malt and grain whiskies, this release is made entirely from barley. A lightly peated single malt component from the Kanosuke distillery forms part of the blend, while the nearby Hioki distillery contributes the remaining malted and unmalted barley distillate. Meanwhile, the aging regimen combines new American oak, re-charred rice shochu casks, sherry casks, and ex-bourbon casks. On paper, that’s a lot of different components and contributing factors; in the glass, this is a harmonious and expressive whisky that opens with distinct aromas of mocha and chocolate. Brambly fruit and sweet vanilla follow, while the palate is malty and earthy, with a bold, spicy finish.
Average price: $125
Rating: 94
Maen’s 8-year-old release is a blended pure malt that spends the entirety of its aging period in former bourbon casks, leading to a bold, rich profile. Vanilla and wood spices open the nose, followed by peach and apple high tones. The palate is similarly dense, while the introduction of earthy, charred notes brings welcome complexity, though perhaps not quite as much as you’d hope for at this price. Still, it’s a solid sip and will appeal to American whiskey drinkers looking to branch out.
Average price: $125
Rating: 92
This is the youngest and most obtainable expression from Suntory’s Hakushu line. Distilled at 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 clean, pure orchard and stone fruit aromas, and a savory green tea note on the palate that plays wonderfully with the hint of peat.
Average price: $150
Rating: 95
Like the Hakushu, this 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, while also offering orchard, tropical, and citrus fruits. The texture is creamy, the flavors balanced, and the finish lengthy and intense, with an enjoyable spice.
Average price: $150
Rating: 95
This is the third edition from Mars’ fairly new “Y.A.” series. The abbreviated name stands for “Yakushima Aging,” while the line itself aims to showcase the unique influence of maturing pure malt on Japan’s Yakushima Island. Aged for four to six years in tropical, humid conditions, this lightly peated whisky brims with fruity and floral notes, with hints of subtle caramel and subtle smoke lingering underneath.
Average price: $165
Rating: 94
After nearly a decade’s absence, Nikka reintroduced age statements to its Yoichi line last year, perhaps signaling that stocks of aged Japanese whisky are returning to sustainable levels. While this was originally the “entry-level” of the line, Nikka plans to release it annually in limited quantities (presumably) until it can become a permanent expression again. For those lucky enough to snag a bottle — they remain on the market, even available at large retailers like Total Wine — expect an explosion of malt, earth, green and stone fruits on the nose, and a spray of saline. Peat will command the palate with dried fruits and charred wood playing an obedient second fiddle.
Average price: $175
Rating: 94
For recommendations for great, affordable bottles of Japanese whisky, check out these tips from the experts.
The availability of beloved brands Suntory and Nikka, as well as the Japanese Highball trend, may be to thank for Japanese whisky’s rise to popularity.
The article The 15 Best Japanese Whiskies for 2024 appeared first on VinePair.
