Japanese whisky

Japanese whisky is a style of whisky developed and produced in Japan. Whisky production in Japan began around 1870, but the first commercial production was in 1924 upon the opening of the country's first distillery, Yamazaki Distillery. Over the years, Japanese whisky has gained international acclaim and now competes on a global scale with traditionally dominant whisky-producing countries such as Scotland and Ireland.

History

The history of Japanese whisky is largely attributed to two men: Shinjiro Torii and Masataka Taketsuru. Torii was a pharmaceutical wholesaler and the founder of Kotobukiya (later to become Suntory). He started importing western liquor and later created his own brand. Taketsuru, on the other hand, had studied the art of distilling in Scotland, and brought this knowledge back to Japan. He would later establish Nikka Whisky, and Suntory's first distillery, the Yamazaki, was built by Torii.

Production

Japanese whisky is produced similarly to Scotch whisky. It is typically distilled twice, in pot stills, and aged in wooden casks. The whisky is often aged in sherry casks, which gives it a distinctive flavor profile. Some distilleries also use locally sourced Japanese oak, known as Mizunara, for aging. This imparts a unique flavor to the whisky.

Styles

There are several styles of Japanese whisky, including single malt, blended malt, and blended whisky. Single malt whisky is made from 100% malted barley and produced at one distillery. Blended malt whisky, also known as pure malt, is a blend of malt whiskies from different distilleries. Blended whisky is a mix of malt and grain whiskies.

Recognition

Japanese whisky has been recognized globally for its quality and craftsmanship. In 2001, Nikka's 10-year Yoichi single malt won "Best of the Best" at Whisky Magazine's awards. In 2003, Suntory's 12-year Yamazaki single malt won a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge. In 2015, a single malt from the Yamazaki distillery was named the world's best whisky by the prestigious Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.

See also

• Scotch whisky
• Irish whiskey
• Bourbon whiskey
• Canadian whisky