Best Japanese whiskies

Jump to:

• Best Japanese whisky to buy
• A brief history of Japanese whisky
• How is Japanese whisky made?
• The modern Japanese whisky scene

Best Japanese whisky to buy

Kanosuke Double Distillery blended whisky

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£98.95)

Established in 2017 and relatively new on the Japanese whisky scene, Kanosuke only launched in the UK in 2024 and this blend combines their celebrated single malt with a pot still barley whisky for a rich and flavourful spirit.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£98.95)

Suntory Toki

• Available from Waitrose Cellar (£38.50), The Whisky Exchange (£34.50), Amazon (£28.50)

Toki is a blended whisky from Suntory's three distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita. It is an incredibly approachable whisky with very light fragrant notes on the nose and herbal and citrus notes on the palate, which make it perfect for a refreshing highball.

Available from:
Waitrose Cellar (£38.50)
The Whisky Exchange (£34.50)
Amazon (£28.50)

Mars Kasei

• Available from Master of Malt (£44.25), The Whisky Exchange (£44.25)

Mars Kasei is blended whisky from the Shinshu distillery in Japan. It has fragrant notes of jasmine and honeysuckle, with notes of red plum and nectarine on the palate. A perfect gateway into Japanese whisky, or more generally into the wider whisky category.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£44.25)
The Whisky Exchange (£44.25)

Tokinoka Black blended whisky

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£54.50)

An equal blend of malt and grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon, Xeres and virgin oak casks, which makes for an approachable dram taken neat. Tropical fruit notes develop into some lovely warming spice on the finish.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£54.50)

Nikka From the Barrel

• Available from Amazon (£43.80), Waitrose Cellar (£49)

Japanese whisky producer Nikka was founded in 1934 and has become Japan's second-largest distiller, producing a range of single malts and blended whiskies between its two distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Nikka From the Barrel is a blended Japanese whisky packed with flavour, rich yet balanced, and elegant. It's the ideal Japanese whisky for an old fashioned.

Available from:
Amazon (£43.80)
Waitrose Cellar (£49)

Yoichi single malt

• Available from Amazon (£68.69), Master of Malt (£89)

This is a smoky and rich whisky with an incredibly delicate finish of eucalyptus with a slightly saline character.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£89)
Amazon (£68.69)

Miyagikyo single malt

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£77.25), Amazon (£65.50)

Aged primarily on ex-sherry casks, this is a blend of several different aged whiskies, with light floral characteristics and a slight savoury element to the finish, which makes this particularly moreish. Despite lacking an age statement, this whisky still delivers in spades.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£77.25)
Amazon (£65.50)

Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£99.95)

A deliciously nutty whisky from a newer vatting of its single malt. This is a great entry point into the Hanyu distillery, and one for those who say aren’t sure they like whisky, as it always changes their mind!

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£99.95)

Yamazaki 12 -year-old

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£139)

Yamazaki is Suntory's flagship single malt whisky from Japan's first and oldest malt distillery, and is the benchmark for quality Japanese whisky. This 12-year-old first came onto the market in 1984, and since then has acquired something of a cult following, and for good reason. A smooth single malt with notes of ripe peach, tropical fruit and a hint of citrus fruit. This well-balanced whisky appeals to novice and experienced whisky drinkers alike.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£139)

Hakushu 18-year-old

• Available from Master of Malt (£594.99)

This is made exclusively from malted barley prepared with soft, pure spring water from the Kai Komagatake mountains in Japan. The whisky is aged in American and Spanish oak barrels, resulting in a long-lasting, slightly smoky whisky with a delicate, bitter note finish.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£594.99)

Drinks by the Dram Japanese whisky tasting set

• Available from Laithwaites (£35)

New to Japanese whisky and not sure where to start? This smart little tasting set contains five 30ml drams of premium Japanese whiskies – from Nikka to Hatozaki – so you can discover what you prefer.

Available from:
Laithwaites (£35)

A brief history of Japanese whisky

Japanese whisky has long been making its own mark on the world, with whisky-makers producing modern, delicately flavoured, unique whiskies. Despite its modern approach, reports of Japanese whisky date back to as early as the 1850s. Japanese whisky was officially established in 1923, when Suntory launched the first genuine malt whisky distillery in Osaka. The company was helped by employee Masataka Taketsuru, who was famously sent to Scotland to learn Scotch whisky-making in 1918, and he is now known as the father of Japanese whisky.

While there were once only a handful of whisky producers in Japan, new distilleries are now booming, and with them bring new flavours and distilling techniques.

How is Japanese whisky made?

Rather than leaning on tradition or focusing on a consistency like their Scottish counterparts, Japanese whisky-makers look for refinement and elegance in their whisky.

Distillers source water locally and play with peated and unpeated barley, different yeast strains, cut points and fermentation to craft individual whiskies with unique flavours.

Some distillers use an eclectic collection of still shapes and sizes to produce a creative array of whiskies. By using a range of woods in the barrels, like mizunara oak, a tree found only in Japan, or finishing in plum wine casks, distinct flavours are introduced to Japanese whiskies that can’t be recreated anywhere else in the world.

The modern Japanese whisky scene

Japan’s early debt to Scottish techniques can mask the innovative streak that runs through the country’s whisky industry, but the individuality of Japan’s whiskies is hard to ignore when sampling its blends.

These whisky blends are the drivers of the industry. Blends such as Hibiki and Nikka From the Barrel are rightly lauded for their quality and are equally remarkable for their experimental side.

The country's love for whisky blends is fuelled by the mizuwari cocktail, a shot of whisky stirred with plenty of ice and sparkling water. This cocktail is the epitome of Japan’s modern whisky scene, served chilled in a highball glass.

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