Japan is n’t the first country Americans mean of when it comes to whiskey . We ’re used to our Scottish score , our Kentucky Bourbon dynasty , and our backwoods moonshine . However , these guys have been doing remarkable thing with booze since the late 1800s .

While there are onlynine active distilleriescurrently operate in the small country , the cobwebby amount of quality whiskey they put out into the world is staggering . If you know where to look and have a Ben Franklin or three to spare , you may get your hands on some of the easily - tasting whisky on worldly concern .

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Price:$67.99Having recently sat down with Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo for an undivided tasting of Japanese Harmony , I was blown away by the flavor of this blended whisky . Harmony is made with elements of   Hibiki ’s 17 Year Old and 21 Year Old , as well 10 other malted milk and grains . The   sherry cask aging process go away Japanese Harmony with a odorous   candied orange skin and white coffee flavor , with a long oak tree finish . Truly an uniting of wonderful relish .

Togouchi Premium

Price:$89.99A well - trustedsourcetells us of this whisky ’s distinct hints of " butterscotch , cotton confect , and a bit of freshly bring down grass " as well as " corn bread , marshmallow , soft caramel candy , white pepper , nutmeg , [ and ] agave sirup on the palate . " That isquitea mouthful but in reality , Togouchi Premium is a overnice gateway for newly - convert scotch drinkers who still long for the consoling perceptiveness of bourbon . What makes Togouchi peculiarly dissimilar from the other nursing bottle on this leaning is the source of the component — Scots malt and Canadian grain . It ’s fundamentally the USA brat of John Barleycorn .

Hibiki 17 Year Old

Price:$139.99Having the pleasance to try the Hibiki 17 Year Old right next to Hibiki ’s Japanese Harmony with Suntory ’s Chief Blender was   an experience many do n’t get to take part of — unless you ’re best buds with   Shinji Fukuyo and I DON’T cogitate YOU ARE . As long as we ’re on the case of things you’re able to say about whiskey that you ca n’t say about people , this 17 year previous is heaven on the lingua . A nozzle of   peach , apricot , melon , rose , lily , and gamboge foliage combined with a palate of   toffy , black cherry , vanilla extract , andMizunaramakes this autumnal whisky , terse and perfect with a block ( or death wizard ) of ice .

Yamakazi Sherry Cask Single Malt

Price:$3,999If you ’re ready to move up from thosebottom - shelf whiskey , one of the biggest steps you could possibly take is the   Yamakazi Sherry Cask Single Malt ,   often deemed one of the cracking whiskies   in the world .   Aged   in Spanish sherry caskful crafted from oak , Suntory specifically does n’t unveil how long the whisky is kept in the barrels , infusing mystery within the robust flavour every   Yamazaki   bottle in their line - up promises . If you ’re marvel about the high price point ,   ​only 3,000 bottles were releasedand — chances are — you’re credibly not go to get your deal on one .

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt

Price:$67.99It should n’t be a surprise that Nikka is on this leaning twice . These bozo put out some magnificent whisky . Unlike the aforesaid Nikka Whisky From The Barrel , Nikka Taketsuru brings together malt whiskies hailing from Nikka ’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries , giving this powerfully vanilla - wind feeding bottle an excess seraphic and juicy taste follow by a butterscotch - honey - variation afterthought .

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

Price:$64.99Winning the top prize in its category at the World Whisky Awards in 2007 and 2010 , as well as aWhisky AdvocateWhisky of the Year in 2018 , Nikka Whisky come together in a procedure known as " man and wife , " in which matured malt whiskey and grain whiskey are blended together and then re - casked to make a fresh delicious concoction from   two   clearly different flavors .   acclaim from   Nikka ’s Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido , Nikka Whisky From The Barrel ’s minimalist bottle matches the gustatory sensation : diffused , full-bodied , easy , and not without appeal .

Kirin Fujisanroku 18 Year Old

Price:$495Literally translate to   " at the foot of Mount Fuji , " this savoury and smoky 18 Year Old whisky is absolutely dripping with Nipponese clout . The lemon , pineapple plant and apricot nose render way to a spicy - yet - short - embodied mouthful that is in truth mean to be savour , rather than slurp up like a hungry   St. Bernard .

Shinshu Mars Twin Alps Whisky

Price:$69.99Distilled in the Japanese Alps on the main island of Honshu , Shinshu Twip Alps is a tasty and approachable blended whisky that ’s actually considered on the cheap side back in Japan . The elusive spice combined with an oaky aroma and deep , fruity sapidity makes it highly easy ( almost too easy ) to drink in one sitting . Be deliberate with this one , it ’s not as hard as you think to go through an entire bottle in a week .

Hakushu 12 Year Old

Price:$489Japan ’s   Hakashu Distiller isreportedlysurrounded by forests at the foot of the Southern Japan Alps and   fresh water nearby commit this very Scotch - like   bottle a delicious pear - peck taste and finish of smoky   green teatime . The 12 Year Old is delicate with a tropical yield aroma and is making   this   author ’s mouth fill up with spit with every tap on the keyboard .

Akashi White Oak Single Malt

Price:$43.99Coming from quite literally the erstwhile distillery from Japan , White Oak Akashi Blend blends 70 % corn grain with 30 % malted barley to make a 100 % delicious , sweet , malty fuse whisky . Consider White Oak Akashi for the bourbon imbiber out there looking to cock into the macrocosm of Nipponese whiskey . Sweet , caramel - y , full - bodied , but simple . It ’s decidedly not the ultimate example of what the Japanese are equal to of in damage of booze – and the price tag reflect that – but consider this a just transitional whisky .

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