#Japanese whiskey brands update
#Japanese whiskey brands professional

We’re not going to flash the best bottles of the year for you if you can’t get them. We made sure our list of best whiskies only includes those available in the United States. Most brands are happy to quench the thirst of the US market-but it’s not easy for everyone. Japanese whisky has come a long way…literally, in the US. (Speaking of ingredients-despite the labeling requirements that came out of Japan this year, we didn’t exclude rice whisky from this list. On this year’s list you’ll see the usual suspects that are simply hard to ignore, but also smaller, independent releases that have gained attention and reputation despite more limited supply.Īfter all, brands that bring interesting ingredients, historic elements, and unconventional distilling methods is what makes Japanese Whisky such an exciting category. The Japanese Whisky blog is always looking for special gems, beyond the usual best-sellers. And of course, with our general involvement in the industry we pick up on what’s popular among the opinions who really matter: drinkers, like you.

#Japanese whiskey brands professional

We also took into account praise from other highly-regarded outlets like the Whisky Advocate and Whisky Magazine, who also employ their own professional judges and rating systems. So many of these bottles have won a contest or two.

Award conferences like the World Whisky Awards help the rest of us know what’s good (and what’s next) from true tasting experts. We take a few main factors into consideration when finding the best Japanese whiskies every year:Īs any whisky aficionado knows, awards are a crucial part of the industry and culture. How does a brand make the list? We don’t take this decision process lightly-there’s only one per year, after all, and lots of incredible Japanese whisky brands to choose from. If you find your whisky budget shrinking next year, no worries-that’s why we make the annual budget-friendly list, too. Just like last year’s edition, these bottles are the creme de la creme in the US Japanese whisky market, and some wear the price tag to prove it.

#Japanese whiskey brands update

The result is a slight decrease in supply, which makes these highly-sought Japanese whisky brands all-the-more coveted.Īs we look forward to 2022, it’s time to update the ol’ best of list. New guidelines from the Japanese Spirit & Liqueurs Makers Association caused many makers to rethink their selling strategies, while popularity and demand for the spirit continues to rise across the globe. It’s been an interesting year for the Japanese whisky category. If you need some recs on bourbon, here are the best ones to try.Believe it or not, it’s about time to put a bow on the year 2021.

Looking for all different types of whiskey? Check out our favorite whiskey brands.

We collected their favorites and made sure we had options to fit every budget, from under $50 to $3,000. We reached out to chefs, bartenders, and restaurateurs to find out which Japanese whiskies they like to sip on and mix into cocktails. And it's spelled Japanese whisky without the e, as Scotch whisky is also spelled without the e. It uses malted barley and is aged in wood, like Scotch, imparting drier and smokier flavors, unlike bourbon, which leans sweet. Much of Japanese whisky is made like Scotch. He brought the tradition back to his home country and opened Japan's first two whisky distilleries. Instead, he fell in love with Scotch (we probably would, too). In the late 1910s, Masataka Taketsuru travelled from Japan to Scotland to study chemistry. It shares some characteristics with Scotch, which makes sense considering its history. Many people think of Japanese whisky as the créme de la créme of whiskies. Show more Why is Japanese whisky so good?