Best Whiskies for Mizuwari (with Water): 20 Picks

Mizuwari — whisky diluted with chilled water — is a long-standing Japanese way to drink whisky with food. This page lists the whiskies we recommend for mizuwari, starting with those that suit it best.

1. 1

   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.

   SweetWith waterOn the rocksHighball
2. 2

   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
3. 3

   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.

   With waterOn the rocksHighball
4. 4

   Ardbeg Corryvreckan

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 57.1%

   A cask-strength Ardbeg named after the great whirlpool north of Islay. French oak brings dark fruit and tannin swirling with ferocious peat.

   SmokySpicyRichNeatWith water
5. 5

   Ardbeg Ten

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 46%

   Ardbeg's flagship, among the peatiest of Islay malts. Behind the intense smoke lie citrus and toffee sweetness.

   SmokyNeatWith waterHighball
6. 6

   Ardbeg Uigeadail

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 54.2%

   Smoky Ardbeg married with the raisin sweetness of old sherry casks, at cask strength. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2009.

   SmokySweetRichNeatWith water
7. 7

   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.

   HighballWith waterOn the rocks
8. 8

   Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt

   Ireland / Northern Ireland / Single Malt / 16 yrs / 40%

   A single malt combining whiskeys aged 16+ years in bourbon and sherry casks, then finished in port pipes. Rich dried fruit, berries and nuts.

   SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
9. 9

   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.

   SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
10. 10

    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.

    SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
11. 11

    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
12. 12

    Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour

    Scotland / Islands (Orkney) / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 40%

    The core expression from Highland Park on Orkney, one of Scotland's northernmost distilleries. Sherry-cask fruit and spice meet heathery peat smoke and honey.

    SweetNeatWith waterOn the rocks
13. 13

    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.

    FruityNeatWith waterHighball
14. 14

    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.

    HighballWith waterOn the rocks
15. 15

    Lagavulin 16 Year Old

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 16 yrs / 43%

    Islay's archetypal heavyweight smoky malt. Slow distillation and 16 years in cask give rich peat, dried-fruit sweetness and a deep finish.

    SmokyRichNeatWith water
16. 16

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 48%

    Laphroaig given extra time in small casks about a quarter the usual size. More wood contact adds coconut and banana sweetness to the intense peat.

    SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball
17. 17

    Ledaig 10 Year Old

    Scotland / Islands (Isle of Mull) / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 46.3%

    The peated malt from Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull. Sweet, briny smoke with hints of medicine, wax and mint chocolate.

    SmokyNeatWith waterHighball
18. 18

    Longrow

    Scotland / Campbeltown / Single Malt / NAS / 46%

    The heavily peated single malt from Springbank in Campbeltown. Rich smoke with an oily texture, sweet fruit and spice.

    SmokyRichNeatWith water
19. 19

    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.

    SweetFruityNeatWith waterHighball
20. 20

    Oban 14 Year Old

    Scotland / West Highlands / Single Malt / 14 yrs / 43%

    The core expression from Oban, one of Scotland's smallest distilleries. Briny coastal character with heather, gentle peat, citrus and honey.

    NeatWith waterOn the rocks

Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.