Japanese whiskey is one of the more unique whiskey options that you’ll come across. It’s a little new to the whisky scene, but its roots are much deeper than you’d expect. In fact, you’ll find that some of the oldest Japanese whiskey brands, like Nikka and Suntory, can trace their roots back to the early 20th century, when Scottish distilling techniques inspired this unique creation.
That said, if you’re just starting to dabble in Japanese whiskey, it helps to know which brands are out there. Plus, it helps to know which ones are beginner-friendly to prevent you from taking a sip and never picking up another bottle.
The good news is that we have your back. Read on to find the best Japanese whiskey brands for beginners.
What Is Japanese Whiskey?
Alright, so before we jump into the best Japanese whiskey brands for beginners, it’s important to understand what Japanese whiskey is. After all, if you’re a beginner, a little bit of background knowledge never hurts.
Long story short, Japanese whiskey can trace its roots back to the early 20th century, when brands like Suntory and Nikka began to dabble in whiskey production. Shockingly, Japanese whiskey has more in common with Scotch than many American whiskeys, and this is due to the fact that notable figures like Masataka Taketsuru and Shinjiro Torii studied and refined distilling techniques from Scotland.
In fact, these two partnered up to establish the nation’s first whiskey distillery, but they later split up, and Masataka Taketsuru founded Nikka. Typically, Japanese whiskey is smooth, sweet, and even has some floral notes. However, some brands also incorporate spices and unique distilling techniques.
The 3 Best Japanese Whiskey Brands for Beginners
As a beginner, you’ll want to stick with many of the established Japanese whiskey brands for the best results. Thankfully, the best Japanese whiskey brands for beginners and the best Japanese whiskey brands go hand in hand. Learn more about the best Japanese whiskey brands for beginners below.
1. Suntory
We can cover hundreds of unique Japanese whiskey options and brands, but we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t start with Suntory, or The House of Suntory. This brand is one of the original Japanese whiskey brands, and today it’s the parent brand of many great Japanese whiskey distilleries.
Essentially, if you come across any Japanese whiskey brands that have the Suntory label, you can’t go wrong with this brand to get your foot in the door before you splash into some more niche Japanese whiskey options.
2. Nikka
Another legendary Japanese whiskey brand is Nikka. In fact, the creators of Nikka and Suntory used to work together under one label. While this wholesome partnership lasted a while, Masataka Taketsuru broke off and established his own brand, which is Nikka.
Operating a handful of Japanese whiskey distilleries, with some of them expanding back in 2021, anything with the Nikka on the label is a good way to get started. Plus, you’ll love this brand if you love Scotch due to Scotch’s influence on Masataka Taketsuru; he studied the art of single malt distilling in Scotland before creating the brand.
3. Akashi White Oak
Last but not least, we want to leave you with at least one modern option. This is Akashi White Oak, which was only founded a few decades ago. Sure, it doesn’t have the heritage that Nikka or Suntory have, but that doesn’t make it an inferior Japanese whiskey product; in fact, it’s what makes this option great for beginners.
If you’re someone who loves unique and innovative whiskey that’s not too harsh, you can’t go wrong with Akashi, especially if you love caramel, spice, and chocolate notes in your whiskey.
Get the Best Japanese Whiskey Brands for Beginners Today!
Are you ready to make the leap into Japanese whiskey? If so, you can’t go wrong with any of the brands that we covered in this guide. Unfortunately, Japanese whiskey isn’t always easy to find at your local liquor store. The good news is that plenty of online retailers are available, and the best brands, like Flaviar, ship to most states across the country; you can check out their own list of the best Japanese whiskey brands to get started!
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