Japanese Whisky Guide: Styles, Labels and Where to Start
Japanese whisky has a reputation for balance and finesse. Here is a simple guide to the styles, the labels and where to start, with bottles you can order from 3Kraters for delivery in Singapore.
What makes it "Japanese whisky"?
Since April 2024, members of the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association follow a labelling standard: to be called Japanese whisky, the spirit must be made from malted grain (and other grains), fermented, distilled and aged for at least three years in wooden casks in Japan, and bottled in Japan. Bottles outside this standard may still be good whisky, but are usually labelled differently.
The main styles
- Single malt: malted barley from a single distillery, e.g. Suntory Yamazaki 12 Year Old.
- Pure malt / blended malt: malts from more than one distillery, e.g. Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt and the Kurayoshi Pure Malt range.
- Blended: malt and grain whiskies together, e.g. Suntory Hibiki Japanese Harmony and Nikka From The Barrel.
Where to start
- New to Japanese whisky: Hibiki Japanese Harmony or Taketsuru Pure Malt.
- Bolder and richer: Nikka From The Barrel.
- Craft distilleries: Kuju THE FIRST and the Helios Kura range from Okinawa.
- Collectors: Yamazaki 12.
How to drink it
Try it neat first, then with a few drops of water. A highball (whisky, chilled soda and lots of ice) is the classic way in Japan.
Browse the full Japanese Whisky collection or all Whisky.
For adults aged 18 and above only. Please drink responsibly.