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Whisky from Japan

Japanese whisky is made mainly in the Scotch tradition, with Suntory and Nikka behind much of what is sold in the UK. This page compares bottles including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, The Chita, Nikka Days, Hatozaki and Mars. For the JSLMA labelling rules, Mizunara oak and how to spot authentic distilleries, see our guide to Japanese whisky.

To understand the five principal distilleries behind the main Suntory and Nikka releases, see Japanese whisky distilleries.

Bottles with no age statement are the norm here, while age-stated Japanese whisky is often scarce and expensive. Prices for the same bottle can vary widely between shops, so compare like with like and check bottle size as well as delivery.

To narrow the grid by production style, compare single malt whisky. Prices are the best current in-stock offer from the UK retailers we check (how we compare prices).

86 bottles in stock, with the best current price from the UK retailers we check.

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Questions

What is the cheapest whisky from Japan?
The cheapest whisky from Japan is Suntory Whisky Toki (43% ABV, 70cl), at £29.50 from Master of Malt. That is £34.45 delivered to the UK mainland for one bottle. Next cheapest: Akashi Japanese Blended Whisky 50cl (£34.95) and Suntory Whisky Toki Black (£36.99).
How much does whisky from Japan cost?
Whisky from Japan costs from £29.50 to £12,432.00, with a median of £134.95 for a full-size bottle. The dearest is Karuizawa 1984 Single Cask #7802 29 Year Old.
What is the oldest whisky from Japan you can buy?
Hibiki 30 Year Old, at 30 years old, from £4,500.00.
What are Japan's whisky labelling rules?
Under the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association standard, set in February 2021 and fully in force from April 2024, “Japanese whisky” must use malted grain, may add other cereals, and must use water drawn in Japan. It must be distilled in Japan to under 95% ABV, matured in Japan in wooden casks of up to 700 litres for at least three years, and bottled in Japan at 40% ABV or more; plain caramel is allowed. Whisky that does not qualify may not use Japanese place names, people’s names, the flag or similar cues that suggest it does.
When did Japan start making whisky?
In 1923, when Shinjiro Torii began building the Yamazaki distillery near Kyoto, with Masataka Taketsuru as his distiller. Torii’s company became Suntory. Taketsuru had learned his trade in Scotland, including at Longmorn and at Hazelburn in Campbeltown.
How did Nikka begin?
Masataka Taketsuru left Torii’s company and moved to Hokkaido, choosing Yoichi for its Scottish-like climate, water and nearby peat. His company was first called Dai Nippon Kaju, the “Great Japanese Juice Company”, and sold apple juice while the whisky matured. Production began in 1936 and the first whisky went on sale as Nikka in 1940.
Why do Japanese distilleries make so many styles in-house?
Because Japanese companies do not usually swap whisky with each other the way Scottish producers do. To build blends, each company had to make a range of spirits itself, so a distillery like Yamazaki uses stills of different shapes and sizes and many cask types. The JSLMA says Japanese makers also bought distilleries abroad or used imported whisky to fill the gaps.