Japanese Whisky Tasting Set

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If your loved one enjoys a soft and citric spirit with a peppery finish, they will enjoy a strong Japanese gin. If they think bourbon is too sweet and enjoy smokey, rich flavours, a Japanese whisky gift would be the best fit. We deliver to a number of international destinations including the USA. Please use the 'Change Location' link above for an estimate in your local currency or find out more about international delivery It is also customary not to serve your own drink, nor allow someone else to serve themselves, and to hold the glass with two hands while being served. Japanese drinking customs also encourage use of the traditional toast phrase, “Kanpai!” Choosing The Right Sake, Sochu, Gin, or Japanese Whisky Gift Set

The appearance of this whisky in the 2003 film Lost in Translation saw actor Bill Murray’s character Bob Harris popularize Japanese whisky in real life from his famous fictional Japanese “Suntory Time” commercial. This is the Hibiki to have, but I’ve included a cheaper version on this list for the budget conscious. Best World Whisky: Suntory World Whisky Ao Yoichi is the flagship single malt from Nikka’s first distillery of the same name. Founder Masataka Taketsuru chose Yoichi in Hokkaido because of its similarity to Scotland. In Japan, this would be the closest relative climate. In this whisky, you’ll find elements of nature such as grass, peat, smoke and fruits. Those accustomed to Scotch who are also familiar with Japanese whisky will feel right at home with this in-between whisky. Best Budget: Suntory Old Whisky

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The Good Housekeeping Institute panel — made up of WSET-qualified experts and whisky drinkers — tried 26 whiskies neat, before adding water to dilute and soften the alcohol and bring out the core flavours. This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services. You'll find a mix of Scottish single malts, Irish Whiskey (which is spelt with an “e”) and Japanese whisky gifts below, all of which have been tested by our expert team. How we test whisky gift sets There are essentially only two world whiskies, Suntory’s Ao and Nikka’s Session. Both are relatively new releases. While the Nikka is a blend of three distilleries’ whiskies from two countries (Japan and Scotland), Suntory’s blend is from seven distilleries located throughout five major whisky regions (Japan, Scotland, USA, Canada and Ireland). I prefer the Ao as the taste is comparable to Suntory’s Hibiki Japanese Harmony. Best Bourbon: Four Roses Super Premium For those that enjoy a clean and fruity flavour, sake would make the perfect gift. Sochu is often described as a blend of whiskey or brandy and vodka and would make a good gift for someone who enjoys a strong taste. Japanese Quality Whisky Society Is Your Premier Japanese Whisky Supplier

Many people prefer the taste of single malt whisky (malt whiskies produced in a single distillery and then blended together) compared to blended whisky (whiskies produced in multiple distilleries, possibly with some grain whisky included, and blended all together). In addition to the great taste, I’m recommending Hibiki as the best overall choice because the presentation is second to none. The bottle full of Japanese tradition features an Echizen washi paper label with the kanji for Hibiki written in shodo (Japanese calligraphy). The 24 facets or sides around the bottle symbolize the 24 hours of the day and sekki (24 seasons) of the traditional Japanese calendar. I couldn’t discard my bottle because of its beauty, so I kept it around to be used as a vase. The celebration of milestones and life events are opportunities to create new memories. The best spirits for gifting, other than Japanese whisky gifts, include gin, sake, nihonshu, and shochu. This is the latest annual limited release from Suntory, but it’s not for everybody at its price point. I call it my whisky of the year for its taste, but it’s also a solid collectible investment piece. This is only for those that you genuinely care about. Best Overall Runner-Up: The Yamazaki Easily recognizable by its bottle shape, which looks like a Daruma doll, this smooth and sweet whisky is readily available at almost all supermarkets and liquor shops in Japan. The price is unbeatable. Money is Not an Issue: The Yamazaki Limited Edition 2021Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. The Hakushu is a whisky that evokes thoughts of nature with its floral, grassy and fruity notes. Yes, the age statement variants are better, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the no age statement (NAS) version. It’s so much more affordable as a daily drinker and as a gift (and it would still be appreciated to receive). Best Grain: Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky Named after inventor Mr. Aeneas Coffey, this is a whisky made chiefly from corn in column “Coffey” stills. Despite the name, there is no actual coffee in this which, surprisingly, fools enthusiasts of the community into thinking there is. It has a grainy aroma with the taste of light fruit. Best Blended: Hibiki 17 Years Old This is the NAS version of the Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky range that includes the 25, 18, 12 and out-of-production 10-year-old whiskies. Each has a differing taste, but I’d say in comparison, the NAS has a more balanced flavor than the next tier-up, harsher tasting, more expensive 12-year-old bottling. Best Overall: Hibiki Japanese Harmony No matter what drink is being enjoyed, whether it’s Japanese whisky, sake, gin, nihonshu, or shochu, there are several Japanese customs and traditions when it comes to serving and consuming spirits. For example, it is customary to all drink the same alcoholic beverage for the first round and not to drink until everyone has been served.