It is true that you will have a hard time tracking down a bottle of Yamazaki 25 whiskey - and even if you do, it will cost you quite a fortune! (The average cost of a bottle of Yamazaki 25 is $20,000, but you should be prepared to spend more if you manage to track it down in the wild.)

However, it is important to point out that the Suntory brand has just recently introduced a "reformulated" version of their 25-year-old single malt. In contrast to the original versions - which were aged solely in sherry-seasoned oak, the chief blender Shinji Fukuyo utilizes 3 separate cask varieties for the new mixture this time: Japanese Mizunara oak, Spanish oak, and American oak.

The aging process of this Yamazaki 25 whiskey new version will now be carried out in a wider variety of barrels as a result of this retooling - which is intended to put the whisky more in line with the other beverages in the range.

The impact that Mizunara often has on whiskey as it matures is likely the reason why the taste has some dash of rosewood, yuzu, persimmon, and ginger. With such a distinctive aroma, it's no surprise that people consider Yamazaki 25 among the best Japanese whiskies to drink!

Ratings: 4.3 stars (from 54 reviews)

Price: $18,625 to $23,707

Buy it at: https://tinyurl.com/5dyxf28u

Nikka is the second major company competing in the Japanese whiskey market after Suntory. This Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malts whiskey is a "refined" edition of the original whiskey that is named after Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka. It was produced to pay some tribute to him. The brand Nikka made this bourbon-style blended whiskey available for purchase in the fall of 2020.

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malts is a combination of the malt whiskey that was made at Nikka's two different distilleries, Miyagikyo and Yoichi. The primary distinction between this whiskey and its predecessors lies in the increased impact of the whiskey produced in Yoichi - which imparts a touch more smokiness to the flavor, as a result of the distillery's utilization of peated barley in its production process. Also, unlike some of its counterparts, Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malts does not contain any grain whisky at all.

Furthermore, the Sherry barrel influence and fruity aromas from Miyagikyo still remain in the spirit of Nikka's goal to create a more balanced and tasty "pure mal," - just like how the company often describes its products. It seems this goal remains in place, despite the fact that Nikka no longer owns Miyagikyo. Its unique flavor and unforgettable texture have made Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malts one of the best Japanese whiskies to drink.

Ratings: 4.5 stars (from 50 reviews)

Price: $80

Buy it at: https://www.nikka.com/eng/agecheck/permission.html

Any whiskey lover - particularly whiskeys from Japan - will certainly recommend you the Suntory Whisky Toki, one of the most popular whiskeys to date. You may find these whiskeys to appear often at most parties and diners in Japan, as their strong taste can complement some spicy food in Japan very well! And aside from serving as a complimentary beverage, you can enjoy it on its own, too.

Let's Toplist summarize some of the best features of Suntory Whisky Toki! For starters, Toki is a combination of grain and malt whiskey from Suntory's Chita, Hakushu, and Yamazaki distilleries - and it is now one of the most accessible Japanese whiskies available.

Secondly, according to Suntory, the "pillars" of the whiskey include Hakushu white oak barrel malt and Chita wheat whisky - together with Yamazaki white barrel and Spanish pine cask whisky. The outcome of all these ingredients is a strong yet still airy taste, which should be consumed in a shot glass (a popular cocktail in Japan).

And no, of course Suntory Whiskey Toki cannot replace some of the costlier products here. But its cheap price is also a huge bonus, since it means you will always have a spare bottle in your home to bring out whenever a guest drops by!

Ratings: 4 stars (from 62 reviews)

Price: $28.02

Buy it at: https://tinyurl.com/3vjb2n4z

The operations of this distillery didn't get started until 2016, making it a relative rookie in the field of Japanese whiskey.

On the Hokkaido Islands - in the extreme north of Japan - is a place called Akkeshi - which has a damp and chilly climate that is similar to that of the Scottish island of Islay. And this Akkeshi Sarorunkamuy whiskey, whose name literally means "white cranes," is the first malt whisky production in Hokkaido Islands.

Akkeshi Sarorunkamuy is a youthful mix of liquid that has been matured in red wine casks, sherry butts, bourbon barrels, and Mizunara wood. The whisky must be at least 3 years old in order for drinkers to truly enjoy its texture.

On another note, there is also a fruity liqueur with hints of caramel and spice; and the fact that the whiskey was bottled at 96 percent gives it a little heat that will cling to the mouth as you drink it.

If you are a lover of Japanese whiskey, you should give it a go - despite the fact that it is only accessible in rather limited quantities in several countries outside Japan. For people who like to host parties at home, Akkeshi Sarorunkamuy will be a perfect addition!

Ratings: 4.4 stars (from 49 reviews)

Price: $95.99

Buy it at: https://www.totalwine.com/spirits/p/235224200

The Mars Shinshu brewery may be found in the Japanese Alps - in the same general region as the Hakushu distillery (even though the Mars brands have always boasted that they have the maximum elevation compared to any factory in the nation, for what it is worth). And this brand is the father of Iwai Tradition Wine-Cask Finish, a whiskey that will leave an unforgettable taste in your mouth!

Casks composed of sakura, wine, and sherry (Japanese plum wood), amongst other kinds, are used in the production of special release blends of the Iwai Tradition Wine-Cask Finish from Mars, accompanied by reasonably priced blends of grain and malt whiskey that has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels.

The 2021 limited-edition Bordeaux Cask Finish was the most recent version of them to be released. To give this whiskey the best production, Mars has transferred Iwai Tradition Wine-Cask Finish into an additional maturation period of around one year, flavoring it with red wine barrels sourced from the distillery's second winery - Chateau Mars (located in the Yamanashi prefecture).

The flavors of sweet vanilla, apricot, honey, pear, and raisin come through in the tasting. If you are a whiskey lover in general and a particular fan of Japanese beverages, such flavors are a must to try!

Ratings: 4.6 stars (from 45 reviews)

Price: ‎$59 - $95.5

Buy it at: https://tinyurl.com/mrxw4bkk

Akashi is also a highly recommended brand when it comes to the greatest and most flavorful whiskeys for you to enjoy. The brand has produced both malts and blends, and Akashi Single-Malt Sherry Cask has been among its limited-edition yearly releases.

Since it is a limited edition product, it can be harder to buy and, of course, more expensive. But you will not regret it once you have purchased Akashi Single-Malt Sherry Cask; its flavor is quite unmatched! And for people who already fell in love with Scotland sherry casks such as GlenDronach or Macallan, Akashi Single-Malt Sherry Cask will be a match made in heaven.

So let's have a look into how the whiskey is made, and you will understand how it can deliver such a tasteful aroma.

In essence, according to what we found, the whiskey is aged in two distinct kinds of sherry barrels: first, it spent around 5 years in the Pedro Ximenez casks. After that, it is supported by a finishing process in the Oloroso casks. The two distinct kinds of sherry oak combine together to offer drinkers a spectrum of rich, fruity notes, from prune and peach to vanilla spice!

Ratings: 4.4 stars (from 42 reviews)

Price: $209.99

Buy it at (temporarily out of stock): https://tinyurl.com/4z7ae634

Some brands have produced wine-life products that resemble whiskeys but in fact, are not whiskeys. These brands tend to sugarcoat that with a lot of advertisements and colorful slogans. However, Tsutsumi, a rather famous wine brand in Japan, decided not to do so. Right from the very first moment, the brand has always informed customers of the true nature of their products.

Indeed, Tsunami is among the few brands that do not attempt to conceal the nature of their wines: Taru 12-YR Tsutsumi Shochu is a seasoned shochu, not a pure 100% whiskey. But don't go away yet; why not halt your whiskey trip for a while to discover what 12 years in sherry barrels have done to this wonderful wine? You will be surprised!

The southern factory Tsunami has existed for about 150 years; and for around a third of that period, it has aged its shochu in sherry barrels. Hence, you can say that Taru 12-YR Tsutsumi Shochu is a single-barrel release with sweet aromas from the rice applied in the mash bills, accompanied by the sherry impact on the shochu as well as dried fruit and spices. Consider this tasty shochu as another option for you whisky enthusiasts!

Ratings: 4.1 stars (from 32 reviews)

Price: $159 - $496

Buy it at: https://tinyurl.com/2f77raas