Are These Japanese Whiskies Worth Buying?
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
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Toki 1:40 Iwai 4:45 Kuyrayoshi 6:15 Hibiki 9:50 Hakushu 12:35 Yamazaki 16:51
Thank you
Nikka has some great offerings. Nikka from the Barrel is another one of these collaborations like the Hibiki Harmony. It's a higher ABV at 51.4% which is very appealing to American whiskey drinkers. Nikka is famous for using Coffey stills and no, this has nothing to do with coffee. It was a type of still invented by Aeneas Coffey in 1830. Masataka Taketsuru went to Scotland in 1918 to study chemistry at the University of Glasgow. He fell in love with Scotch whisky, married a Scottish woman, and apprenticed at Hazelburn which is owned by Springbank. He then moved back to Japan worked at Suntory and founded Nikka in 1934. To this day Nikka still uses Coffey stills and Scotch techniques to distill their whisky.
As a primarily bourbon drinker, Nikka Coffey grain is one of those few non American whiskeys that I keep stocked.
I love Nikka whisky, especially the pure malt Taketsuru.
@@johnhammer2982 Yes, this one is fine indeed
@@blakebatchelor7930 Yes, absolutely a staple to have on the bar
Nikka is so indebted to Scotch they’ve been bottling Ben Nevis and selling it as Japanese whisky!
That Hibiki mix you make is reminiscent of the now-discontinued Hibiki 12, which was aged in barrels used for plum wine. It's legitimately great and my only regret is that I've been slowly drinking the same bottle since around 2014 (special occasions) and it has definitely weakened to oxidation.
I'll have to try your mix!
St. George distillery (Alameda, CA) makes an American single malt finished in Japanese plum wine barrels. It's called "The Baller" and goes for around $50 in my area. Unique nose and flavor; starts out sweet then veers off into peat/smoke. Might be something you'd like.
Great job ♥️🥊
In Ireland peat is used to heat some houses. When I used to go back to my aunts, one of the jobs I was required to do was stack the peat. It helped in the drying process. I then cut into bricks that she could use in the hearth. She had enough to make it through the winter. And Trenton will appreciate this for 3 days after inhaling the peat all i did was blow black out of my nose.
Amazing experience! Thank you for sharing!
Let's get an Irish whisky top 5 blind... Jameson, Sean's Bar, Slane, and one from Cork
In MN you can buy peat "logs" in some stores around Christmas time for homes with fireplaces if you want a little holiday smokey fire. It's always fun to smell it on the air in winter... probably a lot less fun when every house was burning it all day.
In 1992 I was on deployment in Misawa Japan. On night we went out on the town and bar hopped telling every bartender we had never tried Japanese Whiskey. We got tons of free shots and sang a bunch of Karaoke. Now I keep a bottle in my cabinet always. Awesome video guys Thanks.
For the taste or the memories?
@@mhm6 More Memories, there is better whiskey out there, hahaha
Waiting for the day when there would be an exclusive SLB episode for Indian single malts 😊
Amrut, Paul John, Indri, Kamet, Godawan, Rampur, Gianchand are some of the brands I would love to hear your thoughts on. 😊
Please comment on every video to remind SLB. I also want to learn more about Indian single malts.
Nikka From the Barrel would be a good one to add to the collection. 102.8 proof, hits well.
As a Japanese, I can say you did a pretty good job of pronouncing the names. Only one that sounded off was Kurayoshi. (koola yoh she)
Just had a flight of Hakushu 18, Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki 21. I loved the Yamazaki 18. I also like the Hakushu 12 over the Yamazaki 12. Thats why I was surprised that I founf the Yamazaki 18 was so much better than the Hakushu 18. The sherry influence on the Yamazaki 18 was perfection.
I remember when the Hakushu 12 was relatively unknown and everyone had it in abundance for $70 a bottle. There was a point where having a bottle was a staple at my place and I've given it as a gift a few times, but now it's harder to find and more expensive than I want to pay for it.
Crazy! $70 would be amazing... Over the past 2yrs I've never once seen it for under $199
They use to have it at Costco for $55. A year later, the price kept jacking up.
I loved the base level ones that used to be $30. So, in my mind that's what they are still worth.
"like acid reflux" lol
Love the Hibiki Harmony because it is well balanced. Also love the Nikka Whiskey from the Barrel! I didn't enjoy the Toki straight but may need to find a small sample to test it in cocktails.
Hibiki is my new favourite whisky. I really like it. 👌
Currently living with in Japan, also a fan of the Hibiki line. I was fortunate enough to take a tour and do a tasting at the Suntory Yamazaki distillery last year. I was able to sample Hibiki 21 and 30 year as well as Yamazaki 18 and 25. The Hibiki 30 was one of the best whiskeys I’ve ever tried, the Yamazaki 18 was a close second! If you ever make it to Japan, I highly recommend you try to get a tour there, but it is not easy as there is way more demand than they can handle.
I picked up a Yamazaki 18 several years ago. It was incredible and unusual (sharp strawberry note, followed by a sharp blueberry note, and then a broad honey finish) and didn’t last long (I brought it to parties at friends’ homes). I got a second one last year and found it to be a bit different, but still excellent.
We recently had the Yamazaki 18 and Macallan 18 one evening: significantly different nose and palate profiles, but both were delicious.
Also went to visit Japan a few years ago and somehow miraculously lucked into a open tour spot for 4 people 2 days before arriving for our last week at Kyoto. Did a tasting of every super high end whiskey (the same you mentioned) and I know nothing about whiskey other than I really enjoy drinking Japanese whiskey thanks to my old boss introducing me to it. Yamazaki 25 is the greatest alcoholic drink I've ever had. I'm not a fan of anything lower than an 18. Although I know nothing about fancy alcohol, I know the 12 doesn't taste good to me. At the cost of $28 USD a glass for the 25 in the distillery bar vs $500 a glass at a random high end restaurant in SF, the mere $10 USD for the ticket for the tour made the entire trip worth it.
Big fan of yall trying things not in the normal wheelhouse! Big fan of Japanese and other asian whiskey. For Japan I also enjoy the Nikka distillery, particularly the Miyagikyo and from the barrel offerings. Also I enjoy Kavalan from Taiwan. Their high end bottles have some really interesting flavor differentiations.
Agree big fan of Nikka even as a bourbon drinker.
Kavalan is one of my favorites. I’ve been fortunate enough to have people pick me up the Solara ex bourbon cask from Tokyo duty free. Absolutely in my top 3 whiskeys of all time. Regular Kavalan is pretty good too.
We need to get an E-Book of Trenton's tasting notes. Salad, intertube, vomit, Bandaid. Exquisite palette.
“When you’re buying a new house and you can tell a smoker lived there…”
Honest Japanese review or feedback here:
First 3, nobody here drinks them straight. They are only used for mixed drinks (because they taste awful).
Hibiki, the wannabe, for cheapskates only, who can't afford vintage shots.
Hakushu 12, another premium wannabe. When whiskies were still cheap in Japan, this one was the lowest grade of them all.
Yamazaki 12, overpriced but taste just like what the guy in glasses said. Spot on.
With the prices going for these bottles now, none of them is worth your money. For the same money, you can buy so many good Scotch or Bourbon. Why waste money on something that is expensive only because supply is scarce? More expensive doesn't mean the quality is better.
Only like 10 years ago we were paying $30 for Nikka Yoichi 10 (now more than $300), $50 for Taketsuru 17 (over $500 now), $120 for Yoichi 20 which goes for over $4000 now in some cases. Having said all that, Japanese will never pay those crazy premiums for these mediocre whiskies. I understand some of my local fellows will be pissed off with my comments but I am speaking in the name of whisky, hahah.
Thanks for the entertaining review of these whiskies. Remember, only Nikka from Japan is worth your money. The rest, don't waste your money unless it is a special cask or something unique. Arigatou gozaimasu!
Here in Misawa Japan now drinking a glass of blended Malt Hibiki, definitely taking a few bottles back state side with me. Red and Gold Blantons are also really decent whiskeys more cherry flavor profiles I believe in Blantons which I enjoy.
We have the Yamazaki 12 here in Ohio on the shelf but the price is $179 and the Harmony can be found without too much trouble but the price is $124.95. I always keep a bottle of Toki on the shelf, it's a good overall value.
It is hard to get into whiskey in Ohio, the prices are outrageous because the State controls everything... not that I needed to tell you, just giving context to non-Ohio residents. I am lucky enough to live near Kentucky where I can usually save 30-50% off the Ohio price for a lot of bottles.
Love that y'all finally did a Japanese whisky video! I've never tried any and I feel like this at least gives me some ideas on what to try! Thanks SLB for always helping guide me through my whiskey journey!
The Yamazaki is very good.
Worth buying? No, could be Scotch bottled in Japan and sold as Japanese Scotch, sorry, whisky.
For me Japanese whisky is the just right amount of malty and the finishes are abrupt. They leave you wanting another sip. Your pricing is so much better than my neighborhood. Hakushu 12 is min $140. Hibiki Harmony is min $98.
Japanese whiskeys are overhyped and overpriced at their current price points.
I'm from Kentucky. Obviously I tried bourbon before anything else. But Hibiki ignited my love for whiskey collecting. Now I'm broke 😒
I feel ya!
I had a pour of the Yamazaki 18 at a bar in D.C. and it is still the best whiskey I had in my whiskey journey.
😮😮😮
If you make it to Disney Springs in Orlando you can try the Yamazaki 55 year for only $4,000 per ounce!
It's on the menu at Morimotos
Kurt, I feel like based on your palate you would really enjoy the Ohishi 8 year Sherry Cask finish. Should run you right around $90. Highly recommended. There is a younger one which isn't as good and a 15 year which I have yet to try. They start with a blend of malted and unmalted rice whiskey and offer a variety of finished including Islay casks, brandy casks and others. Everyone I've tried has been good but the sherry is my favorite.
Peat was discovered by a guy named Pete he was a simple man…but the people respected him😊
I have tried several Japanese Whiskies and have not been overly impressed with any of them, including Hibiki 21. The quality simpley does not match the cost imo.
Was in Japan mid-October and tasted through a pile of 'Japanese' whiskies... Found a few that I really liked, and brought a few hard to find examples home.
Had Hibiki for the first time in Hawaii and loved it. It was the one bottle I knew I needed for myself! Glad I was able to nab it!
Glad to see you guys talking about Japanese whiskeys! I love Asian whiskeys, but only ever really get them as a special treat to myself. Would love to see you review some Nikka whiskeys. Miyagikyo especially holds a special place in my heart from my first trip to Japan, but the Coffey Malt is also quite good imo.
"For relaxing times, make it Suntory time"
I think the taste Trenton is describing is of bile, and the adjective to use is bilious. An acidic, sour taste associated with vomiting or nausea.
I appreciate Kurt providing a more approachable description.
Very enjoyable video. Thank you guys for doing this and going outside of the proverbial "bourbon" box. I'm an avid bourbon fan but also half Japanese but have never jumped into the Japanese Whisky world mainly because I knew so little about it. Perked my interest alot and now will definitely have to try some things out to see if I can spend more of my money! Ha. Love what you guys do!
Hakushu is correct, mizunara is mi zu nah rah (i speak Japanese, went to Tokai University)😊. Brine is revered in Japanese cuisine, key quality of umami
Suntory Toki was my first Japanese whisky and I love it, but as many others have noted, I recommend Nikka as well (as you mentioned with the Coffey Malt which is pure banana cream pie). The Nikka Yoichi is very quintessentially scotch-like, and the Nikka From the Barrel is also delicious and complex, especially because it crosses the 100 proof threshold. Yes, the From the Barrel is blended with non-Japanese whisky but what's good is good. I think Nikka is a great distillery to explore (check out their history as well), and they also make a fantastic yuzu-forward gin.
That being said Japanese whisky is just a little bit overhyped and so expensive for what you get so I rarely ever buy them, and they are often a hit or miss because of some of the unique and subtle flavors.
Wow. Has it been a while since you bought those or are you getting some back room deals? Currently, in the price-controlled state of Ohio, the Harmony is $125 & the 12 year-olds are $180. And as much as I enjoyed the Harmony and Yamazaki, I just think that's way too much. Still worth it, though, I think are Nikka From the Barrel $70 & Nikka Yoichi $100 (this one's peated).
Given the prices now, though, I have been a bit more reluctant to keep trying new bottles.
I really think the key word for Japanese whiskey is “balance”. It always impresses me with the skill used in the blend. I go to these as much as the Scotch in my collection. Great video!!!
Well said!
YES!! Thank you SLB for this episode. Really great you guys are mixing it up. I hope you do another Japanese whisky episode in the near future. A couple of my favorites are Nikka from the Barrel and Nikka Coffey Malt. Cheers and two thumbs up. 👍👍
Hakushu 12 here in Virginia is $299.99 and Yamazaki 12 is $179.99
I've seen Hakushu 12 in Missouri and they want $400
Toki means time in Japanese, it is literally Suntory Time 😂 your pronunciation is not too bad kurayoshi can be done in phonetic pairs - ku ra yo shi, fool the r just a touch.
Hibiki Harmony $90, Yamazaki $140, Hakushu $140, Yoichi $90, Miyagikyo $90. The value just isn’t there right now.
Agreed, market got too hot too quick. All whisk(e)y markets need to cool.
My store jumped the yamazaki and hakushu from $130 to $180 in the past year. I can't bring myself to pay it.
I was at the Yamazaki distillery in Osaka, Japan. They offer tasting drams on order. You can only get a flight of 3 at a time. So, I went straight to the Yamazaki 25, Hakushu 25, and Macallan 25. The result was that Hakushu 25, for me, was the best. It was simply sublime. Then the Macallan 25 came in 2nd. The Yamazaki 25 came in last, I'm afraid. Having said that, these whiskies were some of the best I've tried. The 12-year-old Japanese whiskies just don't have the oomph to trump plenty of other whiskies out there, but their top-shelf stuff? Pretty amazing, I can tell you that.
Lived in Japan for four years and brought about 60 bottles of Japanese Whiskey back with me. Ten of those were Toki because I didn’t think you could get it in the U.S. lol. Pro Tip for those of you looking to get into Japanese Whiskey, if it’s not from Suntory or Nikka chances are it is not legit.
Commendable attempt on pronunciation👏🏻Kurt's "Hakushu" was near perfect
Thank you for the review... In my experience, the cost of the Yama12 and Hak12 are driven by supply and demand, the juice is not worth the $170+ price tag that you see nowadays. My first Yamazaki 12 that I purchased in 2018 was around $70... by the end of 2019, it was around $100 (that was the last one that I purchased)... in three years is almost double the price. For $180, there are so many options, especially in Scotches.
Toki is and always be a well drink and for mixing. It used to be $10 and since the higher end Japanese whiskies went up in price Toki did too and people not well informed are duped by bars serving it as mid shelf whisky.
Toki is decent enough to drink on its own, but it's specifically intended to be used in cocktails, namely highballs which are immensely popular in Japan. If you go to Japan, you can enjoy $10 bottles at the equivalent price in yen, but Toki at $30-35 is about as cheap as you can get overseas for a true Japanese whisky that you can actually buy on a given day.
I suppose going from bourbon and rye to Japanese whisky is a step farther than from Scotch whisky to Japanese whisky in terms of a decline in sweetness. I love Japanese whisky for its high quality. Rarely is there caramel for coloring. Toki looks like green urine, and the bottle does not hide this. I am glad you liked Tiki as it is the best Japanese whisky deal! The worst thing about Japanese whisky is the cost. It can be very prohibitive. I think you may have scared people away from everything except maybe Toki as you liked it and it is well priced. 😊 Thanks for doing this. You warned us, but as always you did a fine job.
The two that you recommended the most are both available in my market. A little pricier here in Canada, but I may have to try the Toki here and then decide about the Hibiki once I decide, based on the Toki, if I like where this is going. It is a significant jump here the Hibiki at $150 CDN.
Thanks for this one.
Cheers!
Well pronounced! Your viewer from Japan!!
Thank you!! I really tried to annunciate correctly. Thank you for being a part of this channel! 🙏
Excellent video! I almost exclusively drink Japanese Whisky (probably why this video was recommended for me). I've had all of these they talked about today, except for the Yamazaki 12. Toki is great for the price. My favorite in this group is the Hakushu 12, followed closely by the Hibiki.
This is going to sound insane, I bought Toki and the first time I opened it, tasted it, clean pallet, it tasted like burnt bandaids, pennies, dirt, and rubbing alcohol. Contemplated throwing it down the drain but didn’t. Tried it again seven months after buying it, still 90% of it in the bottle, but now an air gap. It tastes really good now, tastes of honey, rose, roasted nuts, light toasted rice, vanilla. Either my pallet was shit that day, or it opened up.
I remember being 22 years old at a bar in Palms, LA circa' 2016. The bartender introduced me to buffalo trace and Nikka Coffey Grain that day. Changed me forever.
We were fortunate enough to live and work in Tokyo for three years and really enjoyed trying to learn the language (not so successfully) and exploring and experiencing their food and drinks. While I never acquired a taste for saki, the whisky had some great but subtle flavors. Like most food and drink there, the tastes are much more subtle than American pallets are used to tasting. True for desserts too. My favorites are also the Toki and Hibiki, and agree the Yamazaki is too expensive these days. Although it has a following similar to bourbon hunters' pursuit of Buffalo Trace products. Thanks very much for the video and bringing back fun memories of our life in Japan. If you do decide to do a Japanese trip, count me in! It's about a 13 hour flight from Chicago/ MSP/DTW airports.
I know exactly what Trenton is saying about the acidic note as if you had just gotten sick. I find it in many scotches I try and it’s the main thing that detours me from them. I just can’t get over it when it’s up front and center
When I was venturing out of bourbon I picked up three things, Redbreast 12, Laphroaig 10, and Suntory Toki.
I've since bought more Redbreast, more Scotch, but not more Japanese.
Don't get me wrong I like the Toki, but I live in a state allocated liquor state, and the Hibiki is set at 125 + tax. I'll eventually give in, but I just have a hard time justifying to pay that price when I can get so much other stuff for that.
Cheers! You should do a drywall episode! When I was in Highschool I did drywall.
Toki is decent enough to drink on its own, but it's specifically intended to be used in cocktails, namely highballs which are immensely popular in Japan. If you go to Japan, you can enjoy $10 bottles at the equivalent price in yen, but Toki at $30-35 is about as cheap as you can get overseas for a true Japanese whisky that you can actually buy on a given day.
Nikka Days is my recommendation for an entry-level blended Japanese whisky and even that is around $50 now (it's around $30 in Japan).
Hibiki Harmony for under $80 was okay. Prices on everything suck now. I love everything Japanese but I'm not paying more than Macallan 12 sherry prices for NAS or otherwise not-on-the-same-level whisky just because it's Japanese. Something at a reasonable price point (~$65-70) that I would recommend is the Iwai Tradition Haru (Spring) Sakura Cask finished blended, 70/30 malt/corn. It's fairly unique, has a solid base (Iwai Tradition) and a lovely finish--if you don't dislike floral notes in whisky.
IMHO Suntory Kakubin and Nikka Black (both available in any 7/11, Family Mart, or Lawson Station in Japan for ~$7USD) are better than any of those over priced Japanese imports.
Japanese whisky is over hyped for for the price points they are demanding for comparable to Irish to Scoth equivalents.
I wouldn't touch Toki as a straight spirit. It's mainly deisgned a spirit for a mixer primarily as a Whisky highball (soda/whisky). With a similar favour profile, Japanese whisky is similar to Irish to speyside to its lightness. Might as well get a Tullamore D.E.W. or a Glen Grant 10. Which is a way better bang for the buck and quality in general.
The regular NAS is good as a gateway Japanese whisky. I'd then jump to the Nikka Pure malt as the next step for a blended whisky, which is uniquely Japanese.
An underated jem would be the Kura 12 from Okinawa. Single grain whisky but very unique.
Looking past the marketing from any brand or country of origin. I'd still pick a Irish Whisky or Speyside Scotch due to the lower price point. Unless I'm specifically looking for a particular flavour profile and quality of the higher age statement stuff.
In general, I can't justify the preice premium.
Not gonna lie I picked up some Toki today before watching this video, and it tastes basically exactly the same as glenmorangie 10 lol, same proof point same price where I am lol, sucks I wanted it to taste unique but it’s basically glenmorangie 10 with a Japanese tag
what I have to agree is Yamazaki Is over priced !
the choices that I would consider to rebuy again is Hibiki 17 or pure malt 17 that would taste slightly better than yamazaki18
im sure if you head over to Tokyo in GINZA or Shibuya there shop selling yamazaki18 for around usd700-1000
For the money, Toki = yes. The rest = no. You’re getting robbed. 2017 Hibiki 17 and 21 was a magical time for Japanese whiskey. You’re overpaying for rarity now over quality.
Toki 👍. Yamazaki 12 ok but yes I agree, I wouldn’t care for it. The 18 is where it’s at and it’s probably why it’s so hard to get. Nikka Coffee is one with great flavor and is widely available. Hibiki Harmony is my favorite! Great flavor at a good price point and widely available. It’s a party favorite.
Japanese whiskeys are overpriced and not that good either. The Yamazki 12 YO that I bought about 6years ago was very ho hum. Wouldn’t buy again. A Hibiki I had about 8-9 years ago was superb but what I had in 2023 wasn’t the same and gave me a hangover.
Japanese Whiskies are way over priced. Especially, Yamazaki 12 and Hakushu 12. For $35, Toki is a good daily sipper. Hibiki for $100 is a nice Christmas gift to any Whisky Lover.
Yamazaki 12 is a little more familiar to bourbon. But spendy. Hibiki gives you the real character of japanese whisky and is the one I'd personally go with and recommend to people looking to get a bottle of japanese whisky.
For me the Hibiki Harmony is $150 a bottle for the 12 yr, but it was a very enjoyable pour, and the bottle has made a beautiful decanter.
I’m boycotting Japanese whiskey until they get their act together! Just had a buddy in Japan recently asked him to pick up a Hibiki 21 for me. $3000!!!!!!!! They’re not as good as scotch
Yamazaki 12 is only 200 dollars due to scarcity and other factors that don't have to do with its quality. It should be priced at the 75-100 range. Lagavulin 16 goes for 90-100 and it's twice as better the dram.
When you say Japanese whisky - at least the award winning ones - think England. Because they are made in England or at least the malt. My mate works at Crisp Maltings at Gt Ryborough, Norfolk and whichever Japanese whisky won a ton of awards sent over some of their staff to be photographed making malt on the floor for the PR stuff. Once the malt was good to go it was sent to Japan. In fact most of the very best malt whisky is made from malt made in Norfolk, UK.
Toki was made for Petit Japanese Women. It's decent but watered down and has little body or complexity (the whiskey not the women), hence the lower price. I would rather drink Dewars. I really enjoy Hibiki and Nikka Coffey. Haven't had the others.
These whiskeys were so well priced 10 years back. I would get a Yamazaki 12 for £50 and Yamazaki 18 for £100 in UK. But now not value for money
Japanese whisky is a lot cleaner then American whisky. Doesn’t matter if you buy it for 25 dollars or 250 dollars. As long as it’s actually made in Japan and you can’t say that about cheap American or Irish whisky, or bourbon, or cognac for that matter. By clean I mean it’s smooth and not overpowering and doesn’t make you feel hungover unless you say over do it.
I just finished my bottle from Hatozaki. Blended whiskey. Kaikyo distillery. Smooth with sweet notes at the end. I enjoyed it.
It's technically the worst time to buy japanese whiskey. If you comparing price points you won't buy japanese whiskey. They can't make enough for demand and the demand is to high. That means the whiskey are way way overpriced now.
Thanks for the education on Japanese whiskey. I have not tried any before.
thank you good sirs, i've been wanting to take a dip in the Japanese Whisky pool and I always value your input!
You can pronounce the first u in Hakushu but it's considered formal to pronounce every single vowel.
have you guys tried Forbes "Best in Show" a.k.a The best Whiskey in the world. Black Whiskey from Peru? The owner is American. He has a very interesting story.
I liked toki it was super smooth and easy to drink. Hibiki is absolutely beautiful and comes in a beautiful bottle
I tried yamazaki 12 when I was downing a lot of jameson and really liked it
Does Hibiki also make your tongue slightly numb? I don't know why, but this happens to me. Nevertheless, a very good whisky.
cant have a japanese whiskey line up without nikka, taketsuru pure malt is probably their best expression, the NAS one is amazing and available. If im not mistaken it was the previously black label NAS puremalt and the age stated ones that were discontinued. The new light label one is still fairly available. Their Miyagikyo disttilery specific bottle is also amazing. There is a great bar in the haneda airport where you can get a solid poor of all of these and much more for only a few hundred yen, that was a nice flight back.
I've stopped at that bar and had a dram of Ichciro World Malt. Outstanding. Also enjoyed Nikka Session, another World Blend, while in Japan last summer.
Hi, newbie here, what is good smooth, sweet, tasty bourbon ? i know sweet is frowned upon and not real whisky but i like to drink it on the rocks and share with other newbies barely getting into whisky. I REALLY dont like smoky whiskies, so please nothing smoky.
Nikka Miyagikyo Distillery Single Malt Whisky Is great. Light smoked flavor.
I bought Hibiki 10 years ago for $80 now its going for $2000 signed by the master himself
Count me in for the Meet Up. I go to Japan every year and collect Japanese whisky. A Yoichi Distillery tour would be nice.
Curious to know, would Japan be growing their own grains for these, or would they be subject to importing them? Great show! Cheers!
I've had most of these except the Yamazaki. They're all fine, except for the Hakushu. It tastes like a plastic container.
Try better japanese whiskies! Nikka Yoichi, Nikka Taketsuru, Mars Komagatake, Hakushu 18,
I was lucky to find hibiki 17y❤ just pure love and last trip i found limited harmony masters select ooooh boy❤
answer no - overpriced because of demand. better value in the Scottish. says guy who has lived in Japan for almost 30 years.
That hibiki has so much air and so little liquid, I would highly recommend moving it to a smaller container. You’re just ruining it at this point with so much oxidation.
Obviously it's worth buying. Rather than some jim beam, jack Daniels, black label, and the list goes on man I can do this all night lol
Great video! Just out of curiosity, what is the other one of the two other Japanese whiskies you have? The one with the "Blue Label" that you said you didn't like.
Not sure what the current MSRP is for The Hakushu 18 but in PA they have it for $1499.99 lol
It’s not Coffee, it’s Coffey named after Aeneas Coffey who designed the Coffey Still. Please don’t hear that and think it taste like Dunks 😂
Hibiki Harmony is an excellent choice with soda. Very bright and drinkable with a little hint of malt and peat.
yamazaki is underwhelming every time i try it and i still have a 1/3 bottle of the 18. i like hibiki more. really like hakushu when i tried it. kaiyo is probably the best bang for the buck at the moment.