U.S. thirst rises for Japanese whisky

Cheep alcohol of course it's popular. Really it sells itself.

Japanese whisky is quite good. Personally, I prefer the blends to pure malt. It's good to see at least one Japanese export doing well, one of very few.

Although I originally was a scotch fan. I think that Japan makes a really fine whiskey and ai enjoy ut just as much. You can get a ¥2000 good whiskey here.

Cheep alcohol

Sure, there is the inexpensive whiskey in Japan.

But anyone that knows the high end whiskeys in Japan knows that they are anything but inexpensive. Indeed, they are not any less expensive than those from Scotland. And these are the ones that are being exported.

Suntory really does make some stellar whiskeys. And, I love the whiskeys coming out of Chichibu. They are very very good. And anything but "cheap".

The worse hangovers in my life came from drinking this whiskey. It is like drinking cheap sake.

I am living in New Zealand. I cannot buy 15 year old Nikka Single Malt. This whiskey is like drinking heaven on earth.

The worse hangovers in my life came from drinking this whiskey. It is like drinking cheap sake.

Then don't drink so much, it's a waste of good whisky when you do that.

I'm not a big whiskey fan, but like Disillusioned, I prefer blends to single malts.

Harry_Gatto, it is not a queston of drinking too much but of almost any amount. I do prefer Scotch myself vs Wiskey. Of course being a sailor means I can drink most men under the table. I like drinking Chivas Blue myself, it is so smooth.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

Japanese whisky is pretty good - I prefer Suntory to Nikka.

I'd still go for Old Parr, Glenfiddich or Black Bush if you're looking to spend up to ¥3,000. For around ¥1,000, Canadian Club is very decent.

Single Malt for me, Scotch not fond of Bourbon.

Might need to look more into the japanese selection.

Now I have come to know that Japanese whiskey is very popular overseas including U.S. I used to drink whiskey when I was young. But these days, I prefer canned chuhai. It's more easy on the stomach, yes, it contains only 9 percent alcohol.

Most Chuhai is 5%, Strong is 9%.

My favourite is still a good smokey Bowmore, but I never turn my nose up at any good single malt, especially a Laphroaig or a Tomatin. And the high-end Japanese single malts are not to be sneezed at. If you can find them these days.

Moonshine in Tennessee, poitin in Dublin, hand sanitiser in Glasgow.

It all gets the job done....

Bill Murray should make a U.S. commercial for Suntory.

Stop it US! You're just making the already inflated prices rise more! Then there's that damn nhk drama...

I pine for the days when I could get a bottle of Yoichi for 1500 yen...

Yoichi at that price? Wow. That's one of my faves. Reminds me of how scotch has been soaring in Japan too..Bottle of ardbeg corryvreckan (my fav widely available scotch) was around 4,500 jpy 3-4 years ago, now it's twice that.

My personal Japanese bottle of choice is suntory Hakushu; very high quality and just like a quality single malt scotch, but has its own uniqueness to it with the floral pallette and slight hint of peat. Suntory coffei is good too.

-12 for saying cheep alcohol? I have misjudged my contemporaries.

Yoichi 10 years used to be 4000+ yen but it's now over 20,000yen. Taketsuru 17 was about 5000yen but now closing 20,000yen. Imagine those 20 years and up, insane prices. IMO Nikka is the best here and Yoichi and Taketsuru are really top notch. Never into Suntory and Yamazaki (only if you get those rare casks). JP whiskeys are way overpriced these days for those with vintage. It's not the makers' fault. We are just losing out to supply and demand. Go to old individual shops and see if they still have those with vintage at normal price. If you see a Taketsuru 17 for 7500yen, grab it!

Personally Blended Japanese Whisky is far better than the Single malts

My favourite is still a good smokey Bowmore, but I never turn my nose up at any good single malt, especially a Laphroaig or a Tomatin. And the high-end Japanese single malts are not to be sneezed at. If you can find them these days.

Exactly! Couldn't agree more. Bowmore 17 years old is my favourite whisky.

Yoichi is my fav. Was happy to find 750ml bottle of unaged at an "outlet" store in Tokyo for 3,000 yen. Nikka 12 year blended purchased at the Narita dutyfree for 5,400 yen made my recipient brother in law more than happy.

As a bar owner. It's hard to explain why a shot cost ¥4000. With the most recent drive of Suntory 18year single malt going from $250 a bottle to $550 a bottle is ridiculous. In less than a year.

I always was a nihonshu enthusiast, but when I got acquainted with Hibiki I corrected my tastes. Hibiki is really good!

This article makes me wonder how much my two bottles of Taketsuru one 17 years and the other 21 years cost right now.

I bought it about two years ago and the seal is still intact waiting for that special occasion for it to be opened.

"Whisky takes a long time to mature before it becomes the final product. Even if there is a demand, it's impossible to churn out products immediately," explained Suntory's Keita Miura.

And at first, this sounds like it makes sense, right? Because there's no way they could tell 18 years ago that Yamazaki single malt 18 years (as an example) would be in such high demand... but then I thought about it, and realized it's just another reason for them to raise the prices and make more money... because they could still sell it at its original cheaper price before it became so popular. I'm saving my bottle for a special occasion now.

Recently, Japanese whiskey is very popular in overseas. We couldn't imagine 10 years ago that Japanese whisky would be a sush high price. Now, Japanese whiskey makers working hard to meet this high demand. I think Japanese whisky will be more reasonable price 10 years later.