TRYING a new spirit at a bar can be intimidating, especially when you don’t even know the language of its native country.
But Japanese whiskies are stealing the spotlight lately, so we've rounded up the best 12 you should consider buying in 2022.
First, let’s begin with what makes Japanese whisky different from other whiskies.
The main things to know about Japanese whisky is that it follows in the footsteps of Scotch and that many distillers today still import their ingredients from Scotland.
This is why it’s spelled “whisky,” in homage to Scotland, as opposed to “whiskey,” which is how it’s spelled in the United States and Ireland.
While the Japanese have grown to be the third-largest distributor of whiskies in the world (behind only Scotland and the United States), acquiring a bottle can still be challenging as they struggle to keep up with international demand.
For this reason, many Japanese whiskies may be known as “NAS,” meaning No Age Statement; in other words, they may not necessarily say that they are a “12-Year” whisky.
Also, the Japanese are very well known for their blends, which help them to crank out new whiskies faster.
Differentiating them is the Japanese environment, which is much more humid, the shape of the stills, the wooden washbacks (as opposed to the stainless steel you’re probably familiar with seeing), and the water used to make the whiskies.
While these may seem like small changes when noted that many are using the same ingredients as Scotch, the subtle differences add up, leading to an overall lighter flavor profile.
Be warned, many of these bottles are on the pricey side, but that’s because of their rarity.
We’ve also included a few budget-friendly bottles, which are also outstanding.
We tried:
1. The Yamazaki 12-Year Single Malt
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- The Yamazaki 12-Year Single Malt, $189.99 from Drizly - Buy here
This whisky is an absolute dream. It’s also one of the first-ever to be sold outside of Japan, which means that it’s partially the reason for the craze that’s going on currently.
It’s worth the hype and the dollars you’ll spend if you decide to splurge on a bottle. It can also be challenging to find online (mainly depending on your state, but we tracked down a bottle on Online Liquor that promised to ship it for a flat-rate fee).
It smells like candied citrus, clove, and vanilla, and what our guide told us was the scent of Mizunara Japanese oak. Next comes a smooth, buttery taste with notes of cranberry and coconut and finishes with a long aftertaste of cinnamon and sweet ginger.
2. Meiyo 15-Year Pure Malt
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- Meiyo 15-Year Pure Malt, $249.99 from Drizly - Buy here
This whisky is everything that Japanese whisky should be: delicate, light, and delicious.
It smells like a floral-citrus infusion. At first taste, it has notes of pineapple, and surprisingly, no alcohol burn. It finishes with a light smokey flavor, which our guide told us was from the 15 years it spent in charred ex-bourbon barrels.
3. Hakushu 12-Year Japanese Whisky
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- Hakushu 12-Year Japanese Whisky, $179.99 from Drizly - Buy here
This whisky is a unique one, from start to finish.
At first sniff, you’ll get aromas of herbs and then lighter notes of apples, almonds, apples, and pears. At first taste, you’ll find a buttery apple blend with smokey undertones. To finish, you’ll find the same flavors, only softer and lingering only lightly.
Our guide told us this whisky is steeped in all the meticulous Japanese whisky-making traditions. These include making it with waters from the Ojira and Jingu rivers, known for their “mystical” properties and pureness.
4. Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky
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- Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky, $99.99 from Drizly - Buy here
You can’t go wrong with this whisky, especially for a middle-range price point. It’s sweet, it’s herbal, it’s got it all. This one has a nose of rose, combined with a light earthy scent of rosemary that reminded us of walking in a garden on a late summer’s day.
Its first taste is sweet – honey-orange, combined with what our guide told us was a white chocolate taste (it made sense afterward). The finish is subtle, with notes of the same Japanese oak tree he told us about earlier.
5. Nikka Whisky From the Barrel
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- Nikka Whisky From the Barrel, $92.99 from Drizly - Buy here
This one was too strong and similar to bourbon for our tastes, but everyone has a flavor profile they enjoy!
This one smells like butterscotch and orange peel, and the taste follows it through to the finish, which honestly burns, but is a little more subtle than your typical bourbon. It would make an excellent mixer for an old-fashioned, but on its own, it’s best reserved for your favorite bourbon drinker who wants to try Japanese whisky.
The Best of the Rest
6. Suntory Whisky Toki
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- Suntory Whisky Toki, $39.99 from Drizly - buy here
While we didn’t get to try this one, it’s known as one of the better introductory whiskies for those who may be novices.
According to Online Liquor, it has a nose of “basil, green apple, and honey,” a primary palate consisting of “grapefruit, green grapes, peppermint, and thyme,” and a “subtly sweet and spicy finish with a hint of vanilla oak, white pepper, and ginger.”
7. Kikori Rice Whisky
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- Kikori Rice Whisky, $48.99 from Drizly - Buy here
Yep, rice is a grain, so rice can make whisky!
This one is a unique addition to the list, as well as to your bar at home.
According to Total Wine and More, this one is “Japan-made from 100% rice. Smooth and aged for 3+ years in American oak, French Limousin oak, and Sherry casks. Floral and fragrant aromas with velvety smoothness on the palate. Distinctively different style of whiskey that is delicate and delicious.”
8. Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt Whisky
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- Nikka Tateksuru Pure Malt Whisky, $93.00 from ReserveBar - Buy here
According to WhiskyAdvocate.com, as well as the guide at our tasting, this one has the following characteristics that any fan of Japanese whisky would enjoy.
"The aromas create an oasis of calm with layers of gentle wood spices, smoke, vanilla pod, and lemon biscuits, while the palate carries a distinctive waxy sappiness that revels in luscious flavors of star fruit, lemon, Asian pear, peach syrup, and aromatic spice.”
9. Nikka Miyagikyo Single Malt Whisky
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- Nikka Miyagykyo Single Malt Whisky, $100.00 from Drizly - Buy here
According to our guide, this is a great example of a NAS (No Age Statement) Japanese Whisky.
It’s described online on The Japanese Bar as having “notes include pear, peach, lemon and orange zest, fresh flowers, honey, grainy malt, almond, cinnamon, clove, and a touch of caramel.”
10. Yamato Takeda Shingen Edition
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- Yamato Takeda Shingen Edition, $166.72 from Drizly - Buy here
Yamato Takeda Singen Edition is definitely the best dressed on our list. It adds some major flair to your bar, with its bottle alone.
But it doesn’t stop there, According to Froot Bat, this whisky has a “nose that opens with tendrils of Japanese blossoms freshly soaked in new-fallen rain over sweet bites of fruit and warm vanilla bean. Bright pops of sugared fruits ripple across the tongue for a palate that is sweet and spiced with more hits of vanilla.”
If you’re looking for a unique gift whisky, and you don’t mind shelling out a few hundred bucks, the aftertaste is said to be smooth and lingering.
11. Mars Maltage Cosmo
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- Mars Maltage Cosmo, $134.39 from Drizly - Buy here
This is one of the blends Japan is best known for.
Its tasting notes on TheWhiskeyExchange.com state that it has a nose of “Vanilla and walnuts with layers of fruit: cherry and raspberry, pear and apple,” a primary palate of “Citrus oil leads, followed by fleshy oranges, chocolate, and oaky spices,” and a finish of “fresh plums and red grapes with chocolate lingering.”
12. Hibiki Blender’s Choice
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- Hibiki Blender’s Choice, $399.99 from Drizly - Buy here
This is another that we didn’t get to taste, but that was recommended to us by our bartender. The Hibiki Blender’s Choice is a unique NAS blend, which is made by the Suntory distillery.
It combines several vintage whiskies, and according to Selfbuilt’s Whisky Analysis, has the following tasting notes.
The nose is sweet, with notes of rich toffee and some vanilla. “I get a distinctive rice pudding sensation, which is novel,” he writes.
The palate continues with tastes of toffee, creamy rice pudding, and green apples. Cranberries bring it to life, as do apple and pineapple juices. He calls it “A touch astringent on the swallow.”
“The woodiness returns immediately on the swallow – not a perfumy Mizunara oak, but a softer and gentler tree bark type… Caramel from the wood picks up too. Dry and astringent overall, keeps you sipping repeatedly. The fresh wine casks come through again, but subtly – reminds me of those Sweet Tarts candies from my childhood.”
