We’ll put it this way: People are drinking so much of the stuff that Japan is literally running out of its older stocks of whisky. The point being, one of the reasons why Japanese whisky is so difficult to find is that it’s not mass-produced. While whisky boomed as an industry in the early days, when it first started to be made in Japan in the late 1930s, by the 1980s other alcoholic beverages such as beer and shochu, a spirit made from rice, had taken over as the most popular drinks. 2015-12-02 People seem to go mad each time a bottle of Karuizawa hit the market (whisky collectors would probably sell their entire family for a bottle of this supposed liquid gold) – I then decided to ask real Japanese whisky experts for an explanation and finally know why Karuizawa is so hot right now amongst malt maniacs of all continents. Japanese people have high standards regarding food appearance and thus many bad-looking fruit get thrown away. If any portion of the whisky in a bottle comes is distilled, bottled, or sold by a distillery in Japan, it’s Japanese whisky. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. I enjoyed Japanese whisky happily over 30 years ago. It’s not only Blanton’s, but Eagle Rare 10, Col Taylor, and Weller-12. The lowdown: Japanese whisky has a simple definition: It’s whisky from Japan. 1. People started buying a lot of Japanese whisky, but prices shot up because there was such a small amount of stock left over from the 1980s. 7 Reasons Japanese Denim Is So Expensive — And Why It’s Worth It It’s no secret that Japanese denim can be pricey, often over $300 a pair, but what makes this so? Two of the biggest factors in what makes single malt whisky so expensive are the Angel’s Share and rarity, which are obviously intertwined. Japanese whisky reflects these values. Up until the 1980s, it was the drink. Their Japanese whisky selection is often seasonal. Taste will always remain one of the fundamental reasons whisky is priced the way it is. During the slump of whisky in Japan, producers didn’t fill many casks. Today the most expensive whisky in the world is Japanese, a bottle of Karuizawa sold at auction for over $128,000 in Hong Kong and a tasting in London offered tickets for over £6,000 to taste the holy grail.. Japanese whisky was seen as a curiosity until a few decades ago. Today the shortage of aged Japanese whisky makes the prized liquid very expensive. Why Japanese whiskey is so good Today heralded as world-class, Japanese whiskeys have won countless accolades and praise – not bad going for a country with only a handful of distilleries. Single Malts This light spirit made from rice became extremely popular. In order to understand why the price of Japanese whisky has risen so much, it is ideal to look at the history. Japan’s White Oak distillery launched in 1984 and didn’t release its first single malt until … Although this world-renowned beef creates an eating experience unlike any other, many become curious as to why authentic Japanese Wagyu is so expensive. In 1992 Suntory added the 18-Year-old, a Ten-Year-Old in 1995, and subsequently its 25-Year-Old. Stupid, greedy angels. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Then schochu, a light, rice-based spirit, came along and whims changed. Surprisingly, the previous sentence alone fully defines why Japanese whisky has shot up in price today. The first reason why Japanese fruits are so expensive is because of Japan’s history of gift-giving culture. In other words, old Scotch whisky is expensive not because it's old, but because it's rare. One of the key reasons that Japanese whisky is so expensive is that there is simply not enough supply to meet the ever-growing demand. One of the key reasons that Japanese whisky is so expensive is that there is simply not enough supply to meet the ever-growing demand. The upside is that Japanese whisky is finally getting the recognition that it deserves. This run on Japanese whiskys created an unexpected shortage. Since then, prices have continued to rise. As Japanese whisky sales continue to soar, less and less of the premium liquid remains on shelves. The transplanted unique Japanese art of whisky distillation has attracted the international market making Japanese Whisky among the most popular and expensive Whisky in the global market. Some Japanese distilleries have turned away from adding age statements to their bottles in an effort to keep up with demand. Imagine ordering 7 supremely expensive bottles of Japanese Whiskey, getting them without a box, and then being charged $111,500.00 for them. Well, if you’d like to order this Karuizawa 7-bottle series, you will need to shell out precisely that amount of money, then wait up to 10 days for the delivery of your prized possession. Beer also started to be consumed more. With rum being aged in The Caribbean, this can be a huge portion of the barrel over a period of just 5-15 years. … Even some of the biggest names in the whiskey industry, such as Nikka, stopped producing whisky for a number of years as the demand was just not there! Why is it so expensive? It’s almost always produced in small batches and distributed evenly across the word. As we have seen, Japan is relatively expensive. The Yamazaki 55, distilled in 1960, spent four years in a mizunara cask before being transferred to a white oak cask in 1964, the year of the last Tokyo Olympics. The biggest factor is that most of them are grown as grafted plants. This adds significant cost to each one as seedlings are much cheaper to produce. The reason why aged Japanese whisky is so expensive. A lot of what a distillery starts with doesn't make it into a bottle. Isabella’s Islay. : If you don’t necessarily care as much … Karuizawa 1981 Sakura Cask #158 - $23,999.99According to Bloomberg, this bottle is another collector’s item, and it holds its value primarily due to the flavors… It doesn’t have the same legal requirements as bourbon or even Scotch. These whiskies are aged longer than your typical bourbons. While its distilleries were originally based on imported knowledge and skill straight from Scotland, they aren’t simply making Scotch in Japan. Japanese whisky has been enjoyed domestically for decades. So you might want to get it … Why: “One whisky I have spent money on a few times and love is St Magdalenes whisky. Karuizawa : the new trendy whisky. In August 2020 Bonhams Hong Kong broke a new record for the most expensive single bottle of Japanese whisky sold at auction. A bottle of Yamazaki 55 Years Old sold for HK$6.2 million (£605,244), establishing a new world record for a bottle of Japanese whisky sold at auction. The concept of what is “expensive”, and what is considered cheap, varies tremendously by the types of whiskies being considered. Japanese whisky. There are three main reasons for why Japanese fruit is so expensive: Japanese fruits are produced domestically. The amount of bottles that a distillery bottles have a big influence on the selling … Akashi. I will now further elaborate on a few of these points. Just one knife produced at Takamura Hamono in Echizen, Japan can cost $900. Whisky takes time. It needs time in wood to get those flavors. People see Japanese whisky as a super premium product. The best stuff that you can get in Japan is some of the best whisky in the entire world, and it often comes at a premium price. But there are other whiskies that are still widely available in Japan which are not as expensive. Japanese whisky suffered from an unexpected explosion in popularity in the early 2010s as Japanese whiskys began winning awards, even beating out Scotch whiskies. This may be a big reason why Japanese whisky is so popular. The unique taste, texture, and tenderness is the product of famous Wagyu genetics, diet, and environment. From the 1930s through the 1980s, whisky consumption in Japan when up every year. Historically speaking, fruits like melons and tangerines were presented as gifts to shoguns by the aristocratic warriors. According to Bloomberg, this bottle is another collector’s item, and it holds its value primarily due to the flavors… Macallan “M” Imperiale 6-litre Lalique decanter (£381,620) Once the record holder as the world’s … Sadly, much of it is due to supply, awareness, and increased demand. Expensive vs. Cheap Whisky – Price Ranges. Fruit are often used as a gift and are thus well-packaged. A glass of wine is slightly more expensive, and whisky varies dramatically, so just ask the price beforehand. The reason it’s expensive and rare is the distillery is now closed so it’s like drinking a piece of history to me now, and lowland whiskies can be amazing but this one is sadly gone.” The whisky in question was the fifth and final installment of the now legendary Black Bowmore series with a recommended retail price of £16,000 per bottle. Originally Answered: Why are Japanese maples significantly more expensive than other types of trees? +61 (03) 9005 6288 info@whiskydirect.com.au Whisky fell out of favour in Japan and sadly, many distilleries closed. Japanese Wagyu beef is prized for its famous flavor profile. Dec 11, 2018 - With price tags continuing to rise on bottles of Japanese whisky, we take a look at what has made Japanese whisky so expensive. Why Is Old Whisky So Expensive? Make the Most of Your Budget When Visiting Japan. But don't worry! So are these high-end whiskies worth the price? Instead, the oldest Japanese whisky of all time reached another superlative: the most expensive Japanese whisky with a selling price of roughly $795,000. So why is it that some bottles are priced at $15, and others are more expensive than the down payment on your first home? Japanese whisky with an age statement on the label is bound to be a good investment. No Yamazaki whisky appeared until its first single malt in 1984 thanks to Shinjiro Torii’s son, Keizo Saji, the distillery’s second master blender. Japanese whisky shocked the world in 2013 when Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible named Suntory’s Yamazaki Single-Malt Sherry Cask as the best whisky on the planet. Japanese Whisky is known for its quality, but that comes at a fairly pricey cost. Whiskey lovers everywhere will tell you that Japanese Whiskey is the cream-of-the-crop. Those who know their whiskey know that Japan produces among the finest, smoothest, most precisely-curated whiskey their taste buds have savored. Price: $6.2 Million. It’s tempting to say it’s all marketing and hype – and at a certain level, it is – but there are also some peculiarities of the production process that make some whiskeys more costly to produce than others, plain and simple. Why is Japanese whisky so expensive? This, in turn, means that you may have difficulty finding it at your local Costco. One great thing about Japanese whisky’s smooth profile and gentle flavours is that it … This situation became noticeable last year, where almost all Buffalo Trace Bourbons were less and less available. Why is Japanese Whisky so expensive? That helped turn the ship around. Japanese Whisky Facts: Why is Karuizawa so hot? A cup of sake, the typical rice liquor in Japan, starts at $8, but you will have to pay more for higher quality. It’s Accessible. Partly supply and demand. - YouTube. Why is Japanese whisky so expensive? Japanese Whiskey has its origin model based on the scotch tradition. However, during the 1980s Shochu started to boom. That and yes they are slow growing. This was regarded as a sign of deep respect, appreciation, and loyalty. Why is Japanese whiskey so expensive? Amount of bottles. There are many unique elements to the production of Japanese whisky, and that’s part of the reason why the distinctive drams which result have had the whole whisky world so enamored. The result is a class of spirits that rarely dips below the $50 mark, and often creeps into three figures. The Angel’s Share is the whisky lost to natural evaporation throughout the aging process. The section below summarizes some broad price ranges to level set expectations for the readers. Why Japanese Whisky Is Expensive We asked Jason Ang of Sydney’s Tokyo Bird to explain the basic economics of Japanese whisky.