Perhaps Scottish and Irish scotch tape is known to everyone. But Japanese whiskey is not known to everyone. And this is not surprising, because at the moment he is the youngest of his kind. Let it not boast of its amazing history of origin and unique manufacturing traditions, but this drink undoubtedly deserves special attention.
History of Japanese Whiskey
The history of this drink began in 1870 in the suburbs of Kyoto, but its official production only happened in 1924, when the opening of the first distillery in the Land of the Rising Sun took place.
In 1917, the talented technologist Matasaka Taketsura from Japan was sent to Scotland to study. For two years, the young man carefully studied the technology and features of the preparation of Scotch whiskey. That is why Japanese scotch has more in common with Scottish than with Irish drink. However, history has left its mark on the development of alcoholic beverages. So, Japanese became the most popular whiskey only in the post-war years.
Of course, at the first stages the alcoholic products of the Land of the Rising Sun were subjected to severe criticism. Later, however, even true gourmets appreciated the amazing taste of this drink.
Japanese whiskey: categories
Like Scottish or Irish, Japanese whiskey is divided into several categories. There are three main types: single malt, grain and blended. Of course, the bulk of the products sold are blends of Japanese scotch tape.
Currently, there are two largest companies that specialize in the production of exclusive alcoholic products of the Land of the Rising Sun - Japanese whiskey Suntory, which accounts for about 70% of production, and Nikka, which produces about 15% of adhesive tape. There is also Ocean and Kirin-Seagram with a 5% share in the alcohol market.
Most Japanese whiskey is made from barley Optic, which is also very popular in Scotland.
Production technology
As already mentioned, the production technology of Japanese whiskey is borrowed from Scotland. Therefore, the fact that Scottish peat is used to make Japanese blends is not at all surprising. However, true gourmets note that the taste and aroma of the Japanese drink is still different from blended Scottish scotch tape. So, for example, Japanese Nikka or Black whiskey has much less smoky smell and aftertaste.
Like Scotch, Japanese scotch tape is aged in barrels of sherry or bourbon. Sometimes new oak barrels are used for these purposes, which in no way reduces the taste and quality characteristics of Japanese whiskey.
It should be noted one very important feature of the production of Japanese scotch tape. The fact is that distilleries in Japan do not exchange whiskey varieties among themselves, as is customary in Scotland.
Whiskey Japanese BLACK NIKKA CLEAR
Some varieties deserve special attention. For example, BLACK NIKKA CLEAR Japanese whiskey is a single malt scotch tape, which is not so easy to find in common stores of exclusive alcoholic beverages. This brand is easy to recognize among similar products. A label with a perky bearded man immediately gives out Japanese whiskey. The price of one bottle ranges from 3000–4500 Russian rubles.
This adhesive tape has a mild flavor and a refined aroma. It is worth noting, as shown by numerous customer reviews, the entire BLACK series has qualities unusual for Scottish scotch tape. So, if blended varieties of Scotland are more suitable for thoughtful sipping of an exclusive drink, then Japanese whiskey will most likely fit perfectly into an incendiary party and will allow you to create many delicious cocktails with your direct participation.
Customer reviews and price of Japanese whiskey
To begin with, it is worth noting that the exclusive drink of the Land of the Rising Sun is very rationally bottled in a wide variety of volumes. So, on sale you can find the widest range of whiskey, packaged from 180 ml to 4 liters, which is undoubtedly very convenient. However, Japanese whiskey BLACK (2 liters) is more popular. The cost of one such bottle in some places can be as little as 1.5–2 thousand Russian rubles. But the buyer should be extremely careful - currently fake Japanese whiskey is very common.
True connoisseurs of scotch tape and exclusive alcohol have long noted the characteristic features of Japanese products. So, it has a softer and more harmonious taste, without a bright woody finish. Japanese whiskey is ideal for making cocktails. By the way, the Japanese themselves most often dilute it with ordinary water, since they do not really like harsh odors and taste shades.
A small assortment of Japanese alcohol products from SUNTORY
Blended and single malt varieties of Japanese whiskey are largely distinguished by their taste and quality characteristics. However, there are several species that truly deserve special attention:
- Whiskey SUNTORY OLD. It has a rich and sweet aroma, with pronounced vanilla and fruity notes. The taste of the drink is rich, almost immediately you can feel the consistency of the adhesive tape and its unsurpassed quality. This is a fairly popular whiskey in Japan. Moreover, especially for him, the designers developed a black bottle in the best Japanese traditions.
- Whiskey SUNTORY HIBIKI 17 Years. It has a rich aroma of honey, oak and resin, as well as pronounced fruity and nutty shades. The taste is sweet, with a bright aftertaste of raisins, citrus freshness and oak wood.
- Whiskey SUNTORY HAKUSHU. This is truly a magnificent blend of the best varieties of Japanese scotch tape, as well as an unsurpassed combination of exquisite taste and aroma. It features a delicate delicate aroma, with pronounced vanilla notes. The taste of this drink will only emphasize the first impression of the aroma - light and refined, elegant and soft, with a rich fruity hue.
Features of whiskey from Japan
The land of the rising sun is very different from European countries. Japan has a rich culture, a unique mentality, beautiful traditions and just a completely different world, which is far from clear to everyone. The situation is almost the same with exclusive alcoholic beverages. Despite the fact that the experience in the production of adhesive tape was borrowed from Scotland, Japanese technologists were able to give their offspring their own taste and unique personality.
For example, Japanese distilleries do not exchange the best blends, and the recipe and cooking traditions are carefully kept and kept secret. Blended whiskey varieties with a short aging time are widespread in Japan - this is allowed at the legislative level. However, it is worth noting that all exported alcoholic products have passed the required aging time and have an unsurpassed taste, which is clearly different from Scottish scotch tape.