16 Apr 2018

Japanese Whisky - How Japanese Whiskies are Winning Awards

Once the ridicule of whisky purists, Japanese whisky has matured in leaps to become a global award winner

Early History of Japanese Whisky

The success of Japanese whisky today in the global market is largely down to two individuals who pioneered whisky distilleries in Japan in the 1920s after others initially imported spirits in the 1870s. Let us introduce Shinjiro Torii and Masataka Taketsuru, two inspired individuals who later went on to found two of the whisky powerhouses in Japan.

Shinjiro Torii started by importing western spirits and liquor, but unsatisfied with the quality of the products, Torii set up his own distillery. The Kotobukiya brand (later renamed Suntory) was born with one of the leading Japanese whisky distilleries today located in Yamazaki.

Masataka Taketsuru meanwhile took his own path in the Japanese whisky sector. Originating from a sake family, Taketsuru travelled to Glasgow and while studying there, took an apprenticeship at a Scottish distillery in 1919. On his return to Japan in 1920, Torii and Taketsuru would cross paths with Taketsuru working at Kotobukiya where the two would collaborate in the further development of the Japanese whisky industry.

Fast forward to 1934 and Taketsuru leaves to establish his own distillery – initially named Dai Nippon Kaju K.K., this company and its distillery in Yoichi went on to become Nikka.

Nikka and Suntory were here to stay and over the next half century the brands honed their skills and expanded the market to introduce award winning Japanese whiskies.

The Two Big Japanese Whisky Distilleries

Nikka and Suntory grew stronger, refined their processes and helped promote the popularity of whisky in Japan in the post-war decades and today they are proud owners of internationally acclaimed whiskies.

Some of the recent accolades include: -

NIKKA WHISKY AWARDS

  • Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky – Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge 2017
  • Koichi Nishikawa awarded Distillery Manager of the year at World Whisky Awards 2016
  • Distiller of the Year International Spirits Challenge 2015
  • Nikka Whisky From the Barrel awarded Trophy at ISC 2015

SUNTORY WHISKY AWARDS

  • Distiller of the Year Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2017
  • Distiller of the Year International Spirits Challenge 2014
  • Distiller of the Year International Spirits Challenge 2013
  • Distiller of the Year International Spirits Challenge 2012

Japanese Whiskies at The Drinks Basket

At The Drinks Basket we are particular fans of all things related to Japanese whisky. While Japanese whisky originally received some scepticism from the international panels – bordering on outright snobbiness at the thought of whisky being produced outside Scotland – the distilleries have improved their techniques and blends beyond recognition.

In Nikka’s case and arguably equally for Suntory, it has been the attention to detail, the quality of ingredients and the ever so important purity of water and ingredients that has made the Japanese whisky what it is today.

Here at The Drinks Basket our favourite Japanese whiskies are: -

 Nikka Whisky from The Barrel – distilled from mature malt and grain whisky with a full body and delicate notes of vanilla, toasted coffee and caramel.

 Suntory Chita Whisky – a single grain Japanese whisky, pale in colour but packed with flavour and subtle aromatic hints.

We invite you to browse through our selection of amazing Japanese whisky and if at any stage you need any help, please call us on 020 8200 8355 to ask our expert opinion

TheDrinksBasket

Here at TheDrinksBasket we take great pride in being a one stop online retailer that specialises in the weird and wonderful of the drinks world. Whether you just want to keep your drinks cabinet well stocked, are getting set for a great dinner party or want to treat a loved one, we are sure to have a bottle to suit every occasion.