The 50 Best Whiskeys in the World

[Celerity]

7. I admit I am not a huge bourbon girl, and I dearly love those Japanese whiskies listed, but

Japanese whisky is now INSANELY overpriced due to global crazed demand, especially the older ones.

EVER,EVER buy from Dekanta (biggest online Japanese whisky seller) they are the biggest rip-off merchants in the business, often double, triple, even quadruple what you pay elsewhere.

two affordable ones (both from Nikka) that are pretty good are

Nikka Coffey Malt

https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/24156/nikka-coffey-malt-whisky



Previously only released as part of single casks, Nikka decided to add their Coffey Malt to their core range in 2014. Distilled in a Coffey still normally used for grain whisky production, the malt is delightfully fruity and spicy.

Mention this bottle to a casual drinker and they might think you are talking about some kind of coffee-flavoured whisky for brunch drinking. So let’s set the record straight. Coffey Malt (produced by Nikka, Japan’s other major distillery besides Suntory) is named after Aeneas Coffey, the Irishman who patented a super-efficient column still in 1830. Coffey Malt is made from 100-percent malted barley that is distilled in a Coffey column still (normally used for grain whisky). It is rich with caramel and vanilla flavours, aged in ex-bourbon casks, and has a nice, oily mouth-feel.


Yoichi Single Malt

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/yoichi/yoichi-single-malt-whisky/

Yoichi is distilled by Nikka at its northern coastal distillery of the same name. The whisky is light and floral with a subtle dose of smoke, which the distillery attributes to the coal-fired distillation method used to produce it. The distillery also mentions a particular briny character, as do many Scottish seaside operations, and you can really taste a bit of saline that plays well with the ripe peach and honeydew notes bursting forth with each deep sniff. Overall, no-age-statement expressions from Nikka are easier to find than age statement bottles from Suntory. As to which is better, the only way to decide is to drink lots of both in one sitting.

The latest Yoichi single malt will replace both the previous NAS release and the remaining age statement whiskies. The change comes as demand continues to stretch Nikka's aged stock, with this new Yoichi Single Malt (made of of whiskies of various ages) aimed at representing this special distillery's direct-coal-heated, peated yet fruity style.