A lesser-known whisky outside the local Japanese market, this version of Akashi is specially produced for the European market using a mixture of Japanese and foreign-made malt and grain whisky to produce a reasonably priced everyday blend.

Akashi White Oak is a blended whisky made at the White Oak (aka Eigashima) distillery. A light and fruity spirit that makes a great introduction to Japanese whisky.

Akashi Meisei Blended is a special edition, uniquely reserved for Frech wine merchants. Discover a whisky with a rare elegant profile with beautiful woody and spicy notes.

Akashi Red is made at the Eigashima (aka White Oak) distillery, which was founded in 1888. Produced by Akashi, this is a light and fruity whisky with notes of peach, almond and grape.

Elsewhere up to $249.99

Originally released for the Travel Retail Market, Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select is a smashing Japanese blended whisky that displays a harmonious flavour profile (as you might expect from the name) with a good kick of fruity Sherry notes.

Produced with silky smooth mountain water, this sake has crispy and dry
taste with light finish.
Kunimare Kasen is delicious on its own or with oilier, strong-flavoured
dishes such as sukiyaki, yakitori, tempura, salted squid, etc.

A blended Japanese whisky from Nikka made with malt from Yoichi and a combination of malt and Coffey Still whisky from Miyagikyou

From the Japanese distillers Nikka comes their blended whisky, the Nikka Blended Whisky. Yep, that’s it. A simple name, a minimalist bottle, a refined label – the focus here is on the expertly-made blend, brimming with intense fruit and vanilla notes, all very well balanced. Excellent stuff.

While most distilleries use their Coffey stills only to make grain whisky, Nikka use the two Coffey stills at their Miyagikyo distillery to create malt whisky too. The Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky was introduced to their selection of expressions in 2014. Plenty rich and flavoursome, it’s a wonderful addition to ...

Nikka Whisky From the Barrel is one of the greatest value for money Japanese whiskies in the world. An incredible Japanese whisky, so much power! We can’t recommend this enough.

Pure Malt Red is a Japanese blended malt in a charming looking bottle! This is made up of malt whisky from the Nikka distilleries Yoichi and Miyagikyo. The result is a fruit, creamy, buttery, and slightly herbal whisky.

Poised and slightly peaty. Pure Malt White is a blended malt with whisky from Nikka’s excellent distilleries. Really recommend this.

The product of two distilleries (Yoichi and Miyagikyo), The Nikka 12 is a well-balanced blend. There’s green-apple freshness, rich fruitcake spiciness, butterscotch and some green-peppercorn punch. Another winner from Nikka.

Relaunched in 2016, this comes from Nikka’s excellent Yoichi distillery. This is a blend of single malts from different years and consequently does not carry an age statement. This is a smoky whisky with a maritime character.

Sapporo Whisky SS is made by Sapporo Shuisei, although the liquid is rumoured to be imported from Scotland. A light and easy-drinking introduction to Japanese whisky.

Chita is Suntory’s grain distillery. The flagship release is aged in a combination of wine, sherry and bourbon casks. This is a light whisky with subtle notes of mint, honey and wood spice.

Suntory Old is a popular release from Japan. First produced in the 1940s, it remained one of the most prestigious whiskies to come out of the country until the 1980s when single malts grew in popularity. Medium-bodied with spicy notes, this is an excellent Japanese sipping whisky.

Suntory Torys Classic is a light and easy-drinking Japanese spirit. Due to being below 40% abv, this cannot be called a whisky in the EU, but is still made from a blend of malt and grai

Togouchi’s ageing warehouse must be one of the world’s most unusual – it is an old railway tunnel in the eponymous town that was never used. This is the 12 year old, a blend of Scottish malt and Canadian grain that’s fruity and citrus-rich.

Although blended in Japan, Togouchui Premium Whisky is a blend of Scottish malt and Canadian grain. Aged in the town of Togouchi in a tunnel that was originally built for a railway but never used – intriguing!

Kiwami (meaning ‘supreme’) is a blended Japanese whisky from Chugoku Jozo who mature their whiskies in a 361 metre long tunnel rather than a warehouse, which is fun.

Tasting note : Chestnut and cracked black pepper with grassy, honeyed depth.