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I'm not sure if you're familiar with the story of Taketsuru... [nt]
But essentially he went to Scotland, learnt the trade, married a Scottish lady, Rita, who moved to Japan and helped setup this distillery. This being the 1920s and 30s makes it all the more interesting, considering the world was a hell of a lot less global than it is now. Rita, posthumously. has become somewhat of a cult idol for Japanese whisky drinkers.
This is from the Nikka distillery website https://www.nikka.com/eng/story/founder/
Wow, the Japanese make very, very good whisky!
Whisky has always been my preferred poison. I remember as a graduate student at Oxford being introduced to The Macallan 12 and thinking that was probably the best whisky on the planet . As I got older and a little more affluent, The Macallan 18 replaced t...
That works, too!
I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer a draught Guinness. So good!
Aaah, the Johnnie Blue! One of my favourite blends!
Never tried the XR 21 though, will have to check that one out.
While I love all four, the Hibiki 21 is actually my least favourite
It has great depth and complexity, but moves a little towards a cognac in its sweetness and I'm not a sweet-palate kind of guy (I drink very little bourbon). I don't get that at all in the Hibiki Harmony (entry level blend) which is a fantastic value-for-...
Great whiskies indeed...
Togouchi are pretty much accessible.... i like the 16y... My all time favourite is not japanese though. Its the Glenmorangie Signet!
What, this old bad boy?
It's 6:30pm here on the East Coast, I think I'll have a dram in your honor! Cheers! ...
I'm not sure if you're familiar with the story of Taketsuru... [nt]
But essentially he went to Scotland, learnt the trade, married a Scottish lady, Rita, who moved to Japan and helped setup this distillery. This being the 1920s and 30s makes it all the more interesting, considering the world was a hell of a lot less globa...
Yes, I knew some of this story, didn't know about Rita, thanks for sharing!
What I love most about this story is it shows Taketsuru's intelligence and humility. He had great foresight to see that Japan shares a very similar latitude with Scotland which means they have similar soil conditions and weather. Japan was always primed g...
Absolutely...
I have always found the Japanese culture to be that way in many regards. When approaching something new, it is done with humility and recognition that 'I am here to learn'. They spend a long long time mastering small details whereas other countries would ...
You know, Japan has really ramped up whisky production in the past few years
But the problem with producing an 18-year-old whisky is that it takes 18 years to produce! And so the joke is that Japan is flooded with whisky...ā¦ only none of it is ready to drink NickO ...
I probably have somewhere in the region of a couple hundred whisk(e)ys
And I drink at least 95% of them neat. Every now and again Iāll come across a whisky that opens up and breathes a little better over a single ice cube. Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Cardhu 18 Year Old Scotch and Blantonās Single Barrel bourbon are three that...
Aah, thatās the making of a perfect summerās evening š
Have a great weekend too, Tony!
Until about 4-5 years ago...
...the Yamazaki 12 was my go to whisky. Very elegant, and incredible value. Then, the word went out about the quality of Japanese whisky, and sent the market in overhype, not unlike what we've seen on the Patek 5711. The price pretty much tripled. I still...
For me...
Japanese whiskey is probably the best. The water used makes a big difference too, very crisp Indian malt is interesting too, I would recommend amrut... But you can still have a glass of Haig on he rocks and still enjoy it- sharing it with friends is the b...
Yes, Amrut is high on my hit list!
I remember being super-skeptical about Taiwanese whiskey, and then I bought a beautiful bottle of Kavalan and was instantly converted. Iām approaching Indian whiskey with an open mind, so should be interesting!
i like japanese whiskeys too
Yamazaki 18 particularly. How much did you buy it at london airport? i remember seeing at Tokyo for USD 500 way way back. I manage to get one and still 3/4 inside
Itās a funny story......
The Yamazaki is the only bottle I didnāt actually buy at Duty Free. I bought it at a liquor store in London (off-license as we say in the U.K.). We only popped in because my wife wanted a bottle of champagne for the hotel room. While she was looking at th...
I had to purchase a bottle of Auchentoshan 12 whisky before I was allowed to buy a bottle of Yamazaki 18 for USD 650 including tax.
Ended buying 2 bottle each. This is from a liquor shop in Singapore.
You know, Iām being one hundred percent honest when I say I intentionally wrote it that way just to antagonize you
So Iāve been waiting for that picture š
I hope thatās just a temporary state, Art
Otherwise you may need a new doctor. š¤
Well, it's not exactly a life sentence, but . . .
. . . for a guy that loves hanging out in pubs and pool halls, it might as well will be. ;-(
Iām drinking to your sorrows.
Not sure which of those bottles to open. Suggestions?
In 2014...
... I would buy Yamazaki 12 for 4,000 Yen (less than $40) at the local mom & pop liquor store in Tokyo. Should have bought a ship container full and stored it in a cave : )
Sequin Wine Merchants in Seattle has a nice selection
I canāt say that I bought any because we needed wine that day. I did look twice though... Cazalea PS - more ...
