Unpopular opinion 🚨

Craft Japanese whisky is better than Scotch.

Fighting words.

I think the Japanese take the craft very seriously, and genuinely want to be as good as the Scottish. The craft scotch distillers are also exceptional, and even the big corps do a good job at keeping small in how they operate and stay true to the love of the art.

HOWEVER the Japanese truth in labeling laws are extremely lax and shrewd producers there have no qualms about buying up whisky from around the world and reselling it under a Japanese label. This hurts their reputation as an industry. The number of Japanese labels that do not contain Japanese whiskey is astounding.

I love my Hibiki, Nikka Taketsuru, Yamazaki, Hakushu, Yoichi, and Miyagikyo, and all, but most of the legit Japanese whisky is hardly craft…Suntory, Nikka, Fuji Gotemba, are all big companies. Maybe Chichibu but anything you can easily get in the States was not the result of both craft as we might imagine it and Japanese distillation. Now that being said, you can argue that the Japanese bring a lot of craft and artisan-level skill to their factory production of Hibiki 21 and other nectars of the Gods.

1. Shibui Grain Select
2. Akashi White Oak
3. Hayama
4. Hakushu

All four of the above are very smooth, full bodied and minimal to no bite. Perfect and very pleasant for sipping neat.

Yes, what would make your list of good craft Japanese whisky? Don’t tell me Karuizawa or Hanyu

Burn in hell 😉

The history of Japanese Whiskey is rooted in Scotch.

What are some of your favorite Craft Japanese whiskies?

If anyone wants to try Japanese whisky: if you can afford it, just buy a Yamazaki 12. No point wasting $50 each on 3 bottles you’ll never love as much as Yamazaki 12. If you can’t afford it, then Nikka’s Whisky From the Barrel. It should be $50, but now some are selling it for 2x, because it’s that good.

Bourbon is best

Hot take, but agreed. Pinned for discussion.

Have been waiting for a while to open my bottle of Hibiki. This post is reason (/excuse?) enough! 😂

Thanks for the recommendations for other brands! Been hesitant about dipping my toes into Japanese brands mostly because I have no idea how to distinguish between good / fake Japanese whiskey.

Anything the Japanese people put their efforts into are better than the original. They are really good at their craft and their craft is usually rewarded by their fellow citizens. For example, Japanese cab drivers are the best in the world and they are rewarded with a decent salary

I prefer bourbon (or its step child Tennessee Whiskey) on most occasions, I drink Irish sometimes at home. I have really enjoyed some Japanese while out and pick up a bottle now and again.

I have tried good scotch and cheap scotch, to me they all have medicinal taste that I don’t like.