Quite a few Japanese whiskies come close to the levels of Islay scotch. In terms of peat, there are many decidedly smoky expression options to allure you. 

The Suntory Whiskey Rectangular Bottle is undoubtedly one of the best Japanese whisky on our list. It is simply known as ‘Kaku’, down here. It is one of the most well-known blended whisky brands that is sold in Japan. Nikka’s Yoichi Single Malt is yet another reputed Japanese whisky that is one of the best. Nikka’s Yoichi is NAS whisky that has an ample dose of smoke. However, it is balanced out by tropical fruit and caramel flavors on the palate.

Drinking any Japanese whiskey neat or on the rocks is the best way to experience its’ complete flavor profile. Our suggestion is that you try Japanese whisky neat at least once. So that you can experience the complexities and nuances of the spirit coming from the far east.

The Twelve Best Japanese Whiskies to Savor in 2023

Many Japanese whisky brands have become incredibly popular over the past decade. Several bottles of the spirit have become increasingly rare. And mind you, they are expensive, as distilleries claim to struggle to meet the demand. Possibly due to the rapid growth of this category. 

There are numerous brands that have stepped in to fill the void. They offer new blends and NAS without any age statement. Many of these whiskies are great cocktail components. Be sure to perform research before buying as some brands source a blend of whiskies made in other countries across the world and subsequently bottle it in Japan. Nonetheless, they call it Japanese whisky. 

However, these are not the only reasons why Japanese whiskies have become so popular. There are some truly incredible drams to be savored if you are willing to explore the category. Let us see which is a good place to start.

Here are some of the top choices we have found there with help from the experts.

• Akashi White Oak: This is the best NAS blended Japanese whisky. It features an ABV of 40% alongside tasting notes of marshmallow, spice, and vanilla. The Akashi White Oak blended whisky is a crowd-pleaser that eventually is made by a Sake expert. It is aged in a variety of cask types, including shochu, bourbon, and sherry. The Akashi White Oak is complex and gives you a little bit of everything that scotch drinkers love. This spirit portrays the richness of American oak, Smokey peat undertones, and leather on the finish.
• Yamazaki 12-Year-Old: It is the best overall Japanese whisky featuring an ABV of 43%. With tasting notes of fruit, clove, and orange, Suntory’s Yamazaki 12-Year-Old is considered the core expression of the brand’s single malt line-up. It is probably the best-known Suntory whisky option, including the Hakushu range, and was once pretty easy to find. Nevertheless, you still can, but expect to pay close to $200 for a bottle. Yamazaki 12 Year Old is a floral and fruity single malt reminiscent of scotch. But the style is very much its own. It is an excellent starting point for many of you who are eagerly wishing to explore the category of Japanese whisky.
• Hakushu 12-Year-Old: It is the best single malt Japanese whisky. Featuring an ABV of 43% alongside tasting notes of apple, honey, and light smoke, the Hakushu 12-Year-Old is made at one distillery from malted barley. Single malt in Japan essentially means the same thing as it does in Scotland. This unique and delicious Japanese whisky is produced in the Japanese Alps, and the product is just as gorgeous as the environment. This Japanese whisky has woodsy and herbaceous notes that expand to include delightful fruits as well. It is eventually backboned with a light peat quality. The water source for this Japanese whisky comes from the mountains deep in the forest near the distillery. It is a secret ingredient that makes this whisky very approachable for a peated whisky.
• Hibiki 17-Year-Old: This Japanese whisky is the best-aged statement blend. It features an ABV of 43% alongside tasting notes of cherry, peach, and toffee. The art of blending Japanese whisky is very important. It stands as a testament to this Suntory’s superb Hibiki range of whisky. There are two NAS blends available in this category. But the 17-year-old is just as good as any single malt out there. It is a blend of grain and malt whiskies that are aged for nearly two decades. With a silky-smooth mouthfeel and a buttery, fruit-laden palate, the Hibiki 17-Year-Old can be used for a very top-shelf cocktail. But in reality, this Japanese whisky is best when sipped and savored neat.

• Kikori: It is the best rice whisky variety made in Japan. It features an ABV of 41% alongside tasting notes of citrus, floral, and vanilla. Many lovers of Japanese whisky consider Kikori to really be an aged shochu. However, it qualifies as a whiskey under the US definition of the spirit. The Kikori rice whisky is aged in French Limousin oak, American oak, and sherry casks for a minimum of three years. The process imparts the spirit with a wide range of flavors. Kikori is great if you prefer to savor a nice light whisky. Kikori is also a good one to try in a Highball.
• Mars Maltage Cosmo: This is one of the best world blends of Japanese whisky. It features an ABV of 43% alongside tasting notes of chocolate, dried fruits, and oranges. This bottle of whisky from the Mars Shinshu distillery is a blend of whisky distilled in Japan but sourced from Scotland. The Mars Maltage Cosmo tastes like a sherry-casked scotch with hints of vanilla and plum. This is likely due to the inclusion of whisky that was aged in sherry butts in the blend, along with spirits aged in ex-bourbon barrels. Savor this Japanese whisky in an old-fashioned cocktail or one over a few ice cubes.
• Mars Shinshu Iwai 45: This is the best under $50 Japanese whisky. It features an ABV of 45% alongside tasting notes of baking spice, pear, and vanilla. The Mars Shinshu Iwai 45 whisky comes from the Nagano prefecture in Japan. The whisky blend is made from a mash bill that is mostly corn. Along with some malted barley and rye as well. The Mars Shinshu Iwai 45 has aromas of vanilla with hints of baking spices. The palate, however, is sparse with pear and quince notes. Because of its 45 percent alcohol level, it is a great summer sipper and excellent for making cocktails.
• Nikka Coffey Grain: It is the best under $100 Japanese whisky label. Nikka Coffey Grain features an ABV of 45% alongside tasting notes of coffee, caramel, and vanilla. Nikka is a major whisky producer in Japan. The Coffey Grain is named after Aeneas Coffey, who was the inventor of the continuous still. This whisky is made mostly from corn. As opposed to barley which is normally used for single malts. The corn ends up giving this delicious whisky a creamy texture along with a sweetness that would unfailingly appeal to many of you who are bourbon fans.
• Nikka From the Barrel: This Japanese whisky is best for those who love bourbon. It features an ABV of 51.4% along with tasting notes of caramel, oak, and vanilla. Nikka From The Barrel Whisky also has delicate notes of butterscotch, alongside a speck of orange peel. Nikka From The Barrel has enough character to be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. It also holds its ground in complementing an old-fashioned cocktail.

• Nikka Yoichi: This is the best Peated Japanese Whisky available. It features an ABV of 45% along with tasting notes of almond, smoke, and vanilla. There are only a few Japanese whiskies that come close to the levels of Islay scotch in terms of peat. Some of these decidedly angle smoky expressions. Nikka’s Yoichi is a single malt and one of the best among them. With an ample dose of smoke, Nikka Yoichi NAS whisky effectively balances out with help of caramel flavor and tropical fruits on the palate. You can either sip it neat or mix it with soda and ice to enjoy an intensely flavored Highball.
• Suntory Toki: It is the best Japanese whisky for Highballs. Featuring an ABV of 43% along with tasting notes of apple, citrus, and smoke, enjoy the Suntory Toki Whisky by mixing it with some sparkling water and a squeeze of lemon. Toki actually means ‘time’ in Japanese. It has a blend of some of the best whiskies from around the world that Suntory makes. Savor the notes of pink grapefruit, almonds, and a light vanilla finish. This Japanese whisky offers a great excuse to treat yourself to a yummy Highball.
• Yamazaki 18: This is the best 18-Year-Old Japanese whisky available in the market. It features an ABV of 43% along with tasting notes of candied fruits, citrus, and vanilla. It is an expensive and rare bottle of whiskies these days. But it just might be worth the price. The 18-year-old Yamazaki certainly tops the 12-year-old on our Japanese whisky brand list. So prepare yourself to shell out close to a grand to get one of these. Or stop by one of those bars that pour it by the ounce. Having this Japanese whisky aged for 18 years in a combination of American, Mizunara, and Spanish oak is a privilege. Effectively, this gives the whisky a wide range of flavor notes.

The Last Word

The Yamazaki 12 isn’t exactly a cheap bottle of Japanese whisky by any standards. But it is arguably one of the best. This Japanese whisky is aged in a combination of cask types that results in providing the liquor a fruity, spicy, and oaky single malt whisky. The Yamazaki 12 is best sipped on its own. You will never be disappointed if you manage to snag-in a bottle.

FAQs

Is Japanese whiskey like Scotch?

Japanese whisky is not like Scotch. They are, however, most commonly made from barley and distilled in a continuous still. As opposed to the pot stills that are used for Scotch. The Suntory, Yamazaki, and Hakushu, all owned by Kirin, are aged in casks that previously held bourbon, sherry, and/or other types of wine.

How do Japanese people enjoy drinking whiskey?

Most often, Japanese consumers drink whisky neat, on the rocks. They use equal parts of whisky and water, or twice up (Mizuwari) whisky and water at a ratio similar to non-carbonated Highballs and cocktails.

Do Japanese people consume a lot of alcohol?

Excessive drinking are part and parcel of Japanese culture. Singing and dancing, even at funerals, was the rage. Alcohol, beyond doubt, is an important and accepted part of Japanese daily life. Right from social and business spheres, drinking to religious rites and traditional customs, Sake plays a central role and is considered normal.

How come Japanese whiskey tastes different?

Japanese whiskies are in fact all about the small differences in flavor. This normally depends on the water sources and the type of wood used for the barrels. This will eventually add different tasting notes. Moreover, some distilleries use wood that is only found in Japan. This ends up creating a flavor that consumers will not be able to get from an American spirit.

How are Japanese whiskies made?

In terms of production methods, Japanese whisky is quite similar to scotch whisky. Both single malts and blends are the main styles that are made using pot and column stills. They are subsequently aged in a variety of barrel types including ex-bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Japanese Mizunara oak. It is a fact that blending is very important in the making of Japanese whisky. There are many distilleries making different types of whiskies that are ultimately put together by the master blender before bottling.

Can you add Japanese whisky to cocktails?

Yes you can! Japanese whisky goes very well in cocktails. The Highball in fact is a simple drink that is very popular in Japan, It is a combination of whisky, and soda water, along with a slice of lemon or citrus peel. You can also use Japanese whisky in classic whisky cocktails like the Old-Fashioned, obviously depending upon the bottle you lay your hands on. You can also try Japanese whiskies on your own to truly get acquainted with the character of liquor.