Category: Guides
Explainers on Japanese whisky, its rules and its history.
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Japanese whisky vs bourbon: what the law actually says
How US federal law defines bourbon and how Japan’s JSLMA standard differs, from mash bills to why Japanese whisky relies…
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How to make a Japanese whisky highball, step by step
The ratio, the ice, and the pour that make a Japanese whisky highball work, plus why the drink helped save…
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Taketsuru Pure Malt review: what you are actually paying for
Taketsuru Pure Malt lost its age statement in 2020. Here is what that reformulation, its awards, and the auction market…
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Hakushu 12 review: what you are actually paying for
Hakushu 12 vanished for three years and came back pricier. Here is what its stock shortage, relaunch, and process differences…
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Suntory Toki review: what you are actually paying for
Suntory Toki was built for the highball and launched in the US years before Japan. Here is what its blend,…
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Nikka From the Barrel: what you are actually paying for
Nikka From the Barrel is a 500ml, 51.4% blend that outperforms its price. Here is what the construction, the proof,…
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Hibiki Harmony: what you are actually paying for
Hibiki Harmony carries Suntory’s flagship blend at a no-age-statement price. Here is what the blend, the bottle, and the price…
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Yamazaki 12: what you are actually paying for
Yamazaki 12 helped put Japanese whisky on the map. Here is what its price actually reflects, backed by Suntory’s own…
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Mizunara oak whisky: why the wood is so hard to work with
Mizunara casks leak more, cost more and take longer to make than ordinary oak. Here is the science behind the…
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The Japanese whisky shortage, explained
A 1980s sales collapse meant decades of casks were never filled. That gap, not last year’s demand, is why aged…
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Why is Japanese whisky so expensive? A price breakdown
Aged stock is scarce, barley is imported, and auction records grab headlines. Here is what actually drives Japanese whisky prices,…
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How to spot fake Japanese whisky: a label-reading guide
A practical framework for reading Japanese whisky labels: category wording, distillery names, the new JSLMA emblem, and what to check…