Author Archives: Emily

Lazy

¥38 Million Raised Through Crowdfunding for Japanese Distillery Revival

Wakatsuru Shuzo Co. Ltd., a Japanese sake brewery over a century old, obtained its license to distil whisky in 1952 and went on to build the only distillery in the Hokuriku region.  Unfortunately, the distillery struggled financially, and the distillery building itself fell apart. The company had to shut down its whisky production, but things […]

Lazy

Spirit of Speyside to Spotlight Japanese Whisky

Ever expanding their reach into new areas of the global whisky industry, the Spirit of Speyside Festival has announced that this year’s programme will feature Japanese whisky for the first time. Yumi Yashikawa, the global ambassador for Chichibu Distillery, recently announced that Chichibu will be a part of the 18th Annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky […]

Lazy

Yoichi Single Malt Named Japanese Whisky of Year by Whisky Advocate

Japanese whisky popularity has snowballed in recent years, and once again a whisky from ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ has made the headlines as the best dram of the year!   In 2015, Jim Murray, famed author of the Whisky Bible, named Suntory’s Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 best whisky of the year, shaking shook […]

Lazy

New Akkeshi Distillery Promises Heavily Peated Japanese Whiskies

Hokkaido, a northern island in Japan, is well-known for its high-quality milk and cheese products, but it may soon be acclaimed for more than its dairy. A second whisky distillery has opened in 2016 on this famous island: Akkeshi Distillery, owned by the grocery company, Kenten Ltd. Along with Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery, Kenten’s Akkeshi will […]

Lazy

Valentine’s Day Cocktails with Japanese Spirits

Valentine’s Day is near, and, whether you’re celebrating singledom with your closest pals or having a romantic evening with your significant other, we’d like to offer you an excuse to involve some Japanese whisky. These stylish, Valentine’s-inspired concoctions are the perfect introduction to someone who’s new to Japanese whisky, or an inspired way to glam […]

Lazy

The Recipe for a Perfect Valentine’s Day: Japanese Whisky & Chocolate

Valentine’s Day is near and romance is in the air! Valentine’s Day in  Japan is a special event filled with love and affection, during which department stores showcase their best chocolates and Valentine’s Day gifts. From simple $5 heart-shaped chocolate boxes to more pricey chocolate sets featuring artistic and beautiful confectionary creations, Japan does it […]

Lazy

Whisky News: Whisky Bible 2016-2017 Japanese Whisky Awards

Jim Murray, world-renowned author of the Whisky Bible and famed whisky reviewer, has sampled over 4,000 whiskies from around the world. In recent years, Japanese whiskies have made history-making appearances in Murray’s comprehensive whisky review books. He memorably named Suntory’s Yamazaki 2013 Sherry Cask the best whisky in the world in the 2015 version of […]

Lazy

Whisky 101: The History of Japanese Whisky

The history of Japanese whisky is shrouded in mystery, since very little is recorded in whisky making before the famed establishment of Suntory’s Yamazaki Distillery in the early 20th century. What we do know is that a few shochu and sake breweries produced Japanese whisky on the side as early as the 1850s. Whisky took […]

Lazy

Whisky News: Japanese Whisky Awards for 2016

Part of the prestigious World Drinks Awards program, the World Whiskies Awards take place on 30 March 2017 and are a highlight of the whisky industry calendar. Every year, prominent whisky associations and reviewers gather to celebrate quality whiskies from all over the world. Taste and Design are the two main factors that help the […]