The assumed inferiority of blended whisky originates from the mistaken belief that blended expressions comprise the bad-tasting whiskies the Scotch distilleries don’t want. And this belief has lingered throughout the years. Sometimes change must come from the outside. Enter Japanese blended whisky. The word premium was attached to Japanese blended whisky, and pushed across the […]
What makes a whisky great? Is it the barley used during production, the pot stills used to distil it, or the quality of the water taken from the earth? Put simply, all of the above contribute greatly to the dram in your glass, however, many experts suggest that the casks used and period of maturation […]
Before anyone gets too excited, this isn’t a James Bond release under the 007 code name, even though we strongly believe that all the great Bonds, from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, would enjoy a dram of this exceptional whisky. With that explanation out of the way, we’re pleased to present a brand new series […]
If you’re a fan of whisky in general, then odds are you’ve heard of Suntory. Actually, even if you aren’t a fan of whisky you’ve probably heard the name in passing somewhere. The company is, after all, the third largest drinks company in the world. They manage many brands, including Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and […]
Ready for some exciting news on Hakushu, our dedicated distillery of the month? The founder of Suntory, Shinjiro Torii is a legend. He brought Japanese whisky to life with the creation of the Yamazaki distillery in 1923, and worked tirelessly for decades to create unique Japanese whiskies which would be loved by his fellow countrymen. […]
As many of you may know, the period of World War 2 was an extremely difficult time for numerous countries, including Japan. One major issue during that time was that Japan had no access to imports. Therefore, Japanese whisky producers were finding it increasingly difficult to secure barrels for maturation during that period. While Japanese […]
Father’s day is almost here, kicking off on Sunday the 18th of June. There are many great gifts to get your dad this year, the obvious and best choice being a bottle of great Japanese whisky. While the whisky world is changing, and becoming more popular across a wider age range in the population, the […]
Just over a month ago, to mark the coming of spring, one of the most well-researched, in-depth books on Japanese whisky to date was published. On the 4th of April 2017, “Whisky Rising – The Definitive Guide to the Finest Whiskies and Distillers of Japan” hit online bookstores worldwide, easily purchasable from Amazon and other […]
The story of the Chichibu distillery is a romantic and hopeful one to say the least, with all the ups and downs, and sadness and happiness that comes with any tale worth telling. It begins a long time ago. Owned and run by the Akuto family, the Hanyu distillery was founded during the 17th century, […]
The history of Japanese whisky is shrouded in mystery, since very little is recorded in whisky making before the famed establishment of Suntory’s Yamazaki Distillery in the early 20th century. What we do know is that a few shochu and sake breweries produced Japanese whisky on the side as early as the 1850s. Whisky took […]
New Matsui Umeshu with Japanese Brandy & Whisky Set in Stock Now
“After conquering the whisky world, Japanese distillers are ready to do it again with Japanese Gin.”
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Watch The Episode 6 Of Japanese Whisky Lockdown – Watch Now.
