Flaviar

Whisky in Japan has a surprisingly longer history than most would think, starting as far back as 1854 when the Emperor was gifted a barrel and 110 gallons of American Whiskey.

Today, Japan is the second biggest producer of Single Malt Whisky in the world. Bet you didn’t know Whisky is THIS big in Japan! 

Now, even if you’re not a Japanese Whisky expert YET, you’ve probably already heard of the two biggest Whisky producers in Japan: Nikka and Suntory. (Remember how Bill Murray and his Suntory in Lost in Translation?). In recent years, Japanese Whiskies have won a number of top prizes at the World Whisky Award, consistently scoring higher than Scotch Whiskies in blind tastings.

If you want to discover the best aromas and flavors of Japanese Whiskies, we suggest you equip yourself with these 3 bottlings.

Suntory The Chita Whisky is a hidden gem, coming from Suntory’s most secretive distillery. It’s a grain distillery that mostly produces liquid for their more high-end blends but this bottling is their first stand-alone Whisky. Nikka Super Rare Old is inspired by the famous Whisky blend that Japan’s first master distiller made for his beloved wife after her passing in 1962. Crafted at the very same place, this rich and complex dram does it more than justice. And lastly, this unique dram. Kaiyo Japanese Mizunara Oak is a double-distilled and double-matured concoction: some of the maturation time even took place on the sea. The Mizunara oak brings intensive flavors while the years spent seafaring give it a light yet complex character.