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Japanese Whisky: All 34 Bottles
Whisky made in Japan. Modelled on Scotch at first, it is now celebrated worldwide for its delicate, balanced style, and craft distilleries are opening across the country. Here are all the Japanese whiskies in our dictionary.
How to choose and enjoy
Under the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association standard, "Japanese Whisky" must be mashed, fermented and distilled in Japan and aged in Japan for at least three years, among other rules. Where a whisky does not meet the standard, we note it on its page.
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Black Nikka Clear
ブラックニッカ クリア
Japan / Blended / NAS / 37%
Black Nikka's everyday staple, made with unpeated malt for a clean, easy-drinking style. Soft aromas and mellowness for daily highballs.
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Black Nikka Deep Blend
ブラックニッカ ディープブレンド
Japan / Blended / NAS / 45%
A richer take on Black Nikka, using malt matured in new casks. Woody oak and vanilla sweetness meld with dense, malty richness.
SweetOn the rocksHighballWith water - 3
Black Nikka Rich Blend
ブラックニッカ リッチブレンド
Japan / Blended / NAS / 40%
A Black Nikka built around sherry-cask malt, married with Nikka's Coffey grain. Fruity, floral aromas and smooth, sweet richness — designed to be enjoyed on the rocks.
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Chita
知多
Japan / Grain / NAS / 43%
Suntory's single grain whisky from Chita Distillery in Aichi. Light with a gently sweet aroma, it truly blooms in a highball.
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Hakushu
白州
Japan / Single Malt / NAS / 43%
The no-age-statement single malt from Hakushu, the "forest distillery". Fresh young-leaf aromas, gentle smoke and a crisp, lively finish.
HighballNeatOn the rocks - 6
Hakushu 12 Year Old
白州 12年
Japan / Yamanashi / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 43%
A 12-year-old single malt from the "forest distillery". Fresh green-leaf and fruit aromas with a soft, sweet smokiness.
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Hakushu 18 Year Old
白州 18年
Japan / Yamanashi / Single Malt / 18 yrs / 43%
Hakushu made from malts aged 18+ years. Deep ripe-fruit aromas and gentle smoke, with complex richness and oak in harmony.
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Hibiki 21 Year Old
響 21年
Japan / Blended / 21 yrs / 43%
One of the pinnacles of Suntory blending: carefully selected malt and grain whiskies aged 21+ years. Ripe fruit and deep oak.
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Hibiki Japanese Harmony
響 JAPANESE HARMONY
Japan / Blended / NAS / 43%
Hibiki's no-age-statement blend, conceived to reflect Japan's seasons and sensibilities. Elegant and deep, soft on the palate, with a Mizunara finish.
SweetNeatWith waterHighball - 10
Ichiro's Malt & Grain White Label
イチローズモルト&グレーン ホワイトラベル
Japan / Blended / NAS / 46%
A world blend with Chichibu malt at its heart, combining whiskies from the five great whisky nations. Fresh and elegant — great in a highball.
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Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries
イチローズモルト ダブルディスティラリーズ
Japan / Blended Malt / NAS / 46.5%
A pure malt marrying malts from Hanyu and Chichibu, two distilleries tied to Ichiro Akuto. Green apple and honey with Mizunara spice.
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Iwai Tradition
岩井トラディション
Japan / Blended / NAS / 40%
A blend named after Kiichiro Iwai, who guided Hombo Shuzo's early whisky making. Easy-going and affordable for everyday highballs and mizuwari.
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Kirin Fuji Single Blended Japanese Whisky
キリン シングルブレンデッド 富士
Japan / Shizuoka / Blended / NAS / 46%
A rare "single blended" whisky: both malt and grain are made at Fuji Gotemba Distillery. Mount Fuji's spring water and diverse spirits create a harmonious blend.
FruityNeatOn the rocksHighball - 14
Kirin Fuji Single Grain Japanese Whisky
キリン シングルグレーン 富士
Japan / Shizuoka / Grain / NAS / 46%
A single grain combining whiskies from three distillation methods at Fuji Gotemba. Poached pear and marmalade fruit with rye-like spice.
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Miyagikyo Single Malt 10 Year Old
シングルモルト宮城峡 10年
Japan / Miyagi / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 45%
A single malt from whisky aged at least 10 years at Miyagikyo near Sendai. Fruity apple and citrus with soft vanilla sweetness from maturation.
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Nikka Coffey Grain
ニッカ カフェグレーン
Japan / Miyagi / Grain / NAS / 45%
Grain whisky made in a rare Coffey still. The sweetness of the grain comes through, with vanilla and chocolate-like aromas.
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Nikka Coffey Malt
ニッカ カフェモルト
Japan / Miyagi / Grain / NAS / 45%
An unusual whisky: 100% malted barley distilled in a Coffey still. Peach, tropical fruit and banana with a silky texture.
SweetFruityNeatOn the rocksHighball - 18
Nikka Days
ニッカ デイズ
Japan / Blended / NAS / 40%
A light, delicate blend built on Coffey Grain and Miyagikyo malt. Fruity white flowers, pear and citrus with a silky texture.
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Nikka From the Barrel
ニッカ フロム・ザ・バレル
Japan / Blended / NAS / 51.4%
Launched in 1985 and known for its square bottle — "a small block of whisky". Rich and mellow thanks to 51.4% ABV and a post-blending marriage in cask.
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Nikka Frontier
ニッカ フロンティア
Japan / Blended / NAS / 48%
A malt-led blend (51%+ malt) keyed on Yoichi's heavily peated malt. Non-chill filtered at 48%, weighty and smoky.
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Single Malt Kanosuke
シングルモルト嘉之助
Japan / Kagoshima / Single Malt / NAS / 48%
The core single malt from Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima. Sweet, elegant Japanese character from ex-shochu casks, with a faint sea-breeze saltiness.
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Single Malt Miyagikyo
シングルモルト宮城峡
Japan / Single Malt / NAS / 45%
The no-age-statement single malt from Miyagikyo near Sendai. Sweet, lush apple and pear aromas with vanilla and a smooth texture.
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Single Malt Yoichi
シングルモルト余市
Japan / Single Malt / NAS / 45%
The no-age-statement single malt from Yoichi in Hokkaido, made by coal-fired direct distillation. Soft oak and fruit with powerful peat and a smoky finish.
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Suntory Kakubin
角瓶
Japan / Blended / NAS / 40%
Launched in 1937 and known for its tortoiseshell-patterned bottle, Japan's best-selling whisky. Rich body and a dry finish — the classic highball whisky.
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Suntory Old
サントリーオールド
Japan / Blended / NAS / 43%
Loved since 1950 and nicknamed "Daruma" for its rounded bottle. Sweet raisin and berry aromas from sherry casks, with a mellow palate.
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Suntory Royal
サントリーローヤル
Japan / Blended / NAS / 43%
A 1960 blend created by Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii. Sweet, lush aromas and a soft, smooth palate.
SweetWith waterOn the rocksHighball - 27
Suntory Toki
サントリー トキ
Japan / Blended / NAS / 43%
A blend built on Hakushu malt and Chita grain, with Yamazaki malt added. Citrus and mint freshness with vanilla sweetness — made for highballs.
HighballOn the rocksCocktails - 28
Super Nikka
スーパーニッカ
Japan / Blended / NAS / 43%
A blend Masataka Taketsuru created in 1962 in memory of his late wife, Rita. Lush aromas, gentle peat and sweet, woody oak.
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Taketsuru Pure Malt
竹鶴ピュアモルト
Japan / Blended Malt / NAS / 43%
Nikka's pure malt, marrying malts from Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Soft oak and fruit, rich malt and a gentle touch of peat.
RichNeatOn the rocksHighball - 30
Torys Whisky (formerly Torys Classic)
トリスウイスキー(旧 トリス〈クラシック〉)
Japan / Blended / NAS / 37%
Suntory's affordable blended whisky, carrying on the Torys name that dates back to 1946. Gentle vanilla and caramel sweetness with a smooth, rounded palate — made for highballs. Renamed from Torys Classic in November 2025.
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Yamazaki
山崎
Japan / Single Malt / NAS / 43%
The no-age-statement single malt from Yamazaki, Japan's first malt whisky distillery. Wine-cask and Mizunara-cask malts combine for soft, elegant aromas and a sweet, smooth taste.
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Yamazaki 12 Year Old
山崎 12年
Japan / Osaka / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 43%
The benchmark Japanese single malt. Sweet, ripe-fruit aromas meet a mellow, full-bodied palate.
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Yamazaki 18 Year Old
山崎 18年
Japan / Osaka / Single Malt / 18 yrs / 43%
A full-bodied Yamazaki built around sherry (Spanish oak) cask whisky aged 18+ years. Dried fruit and chocolate with the depth of Mizunara oak.
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Yoichi Single Malt 10 Year Old
シングルモルト余市 10年
Japan / Hokkaido / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 45%
A powerful, weighty single malt from coal-fired Yoichi, aged at least 10 years. Ripe banana and pear meet smoky peat.
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Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.