It is hardly a secret I’m a fan of many whiskies from Japan and a few from Taiwan too! Whiskies from Asia are gaining ground – including newer entrants from South Korea and Thailand.

Over the years, we have discovered many an exquisite dram or two… with a few sessions that stand out for the effort (whisky hunting in Tokyo) and rarity (Ichiro’s Hou’uhi + Karuizawa 39 year)!

In between these exceptional and rare whiskies is a range of interesting drams to explore. The challenge today is you may not find what you want or find it at a frightful price… except ji-whiskies which aren’t to everyone’s tastes!

This is why after years of diving into Asian whiskies, my explorations have slowed…

Bhutan

• K5 Himalayan Whisky 40% WL
• Misty Peak 40% WL

Japan

• Akashi
  • Akashi Red Blended Whisky 40% + Niko’s notes Feb’17 WL
  • Akashi White Oak Single Malt 40% WL
• Chichibu
  • Chichibu (2009) French Oak Cask 63.1%
  • Chichibu ‘The Floor Malted’ 3 year 50.5%
  • Chichibu “On The Way” (2019) Cask 2089 51.5% (Inchiro’s Malt)
  • Chichibu 6 year (2015) Heavily Peated 2nd Fill Bourbon Barrel #4660 63.9% (LMdW) 
  • Chichibu 7 year (2014) Peated 2nd Fill Bourbon Barrel #3812 64.3% (LMdW) 
  • Chichibu 8 year (2013) Virgin Oak Barrel #2856 61% (LMdW) 
  • Chichibu 8 year (2013) Japanese Wine Cask #9664 61% (LMdW) 
• Chita
  • Chita NAS 43% WL
  • Chita Single Grain Whisky 12 year 43%
• Hakushu
  • 18 year 43%
  • NAS 43%, Oct’17, Mar’18 WL
• Hibiki Harmony NAS 43%, Mar’18
• Ichiro’s Malt
  • Double Distilleries 46% (IN)
  • Houou-uhi (Phoenix) 46.5%
  • Kaikyo Distillery Hatozaki Blended Whisky 40%
• Karuizawa
  • Karuizawa Asama 46%
  • Karuizawa 12 year (1999/2011) Cask #867 58.9%
  • Karuizawa 39 year (1973/2013) Cask No 1607 67.7%
• Mars Iwai Traditional Blended Whisky 40% WL
• Miyagikyo
  • Miyagikyo Single Malt NAS 45%
  • Miyagikyo 15 year 45%

• Nikka at Whisky Live Singapore 2016
  • All Malt 40%
  • Coffey Grain Whisky 45% + Oct’18
  • Coffey Malt Whisky 45%
  • Nikka Blended Whisky 40%
  • Nikka Days 40%
  • Nikka ‘From the Barrel’ 51.4%, Sep’15, + Mar’19
  • Nikka Pure Malt 21 year 43%
  • Super Nikka Whisky 43% 
  • Super Rare Old Nikka 43% – Comparing 1980s with Today
  • Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 year 43%
  • The Nikka 12 year 43%
• Suntory
  • Toki Blend 43% + 2020 Revisit
  • Excellence 43% (1980s) vs Old 43% (~2019) WL
• Togouchi Kirvami 40%
• Yamazaki
  • Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve 43%
  • Yamazaki Sherry Cask (1998) 61%
  • Yamazaki 12 year (1996/2009) 60% (Whisky Live Japan 10 year anniversary edition)
  • Yamazaki 25 year Sherry Cask (2016) 43%
• Yoichi
  • Yoichi Single Malt NAS 45%
  • Yoichi 10 year 45%

South Korea

• Ki-One Batch 6 PX (2024) 53.5%

Taiwan

• Kavalan Bourbon Oak 46%
• Kavalan Classic Single Malt 40% + WhiskyLive
• Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish 40%, Whisky Ladies Revisit
• Kavalan Sherry Oak 46%
• Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask B100924087A Bottle 008/200 59.4%
• Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask B101124001A, Bottle 102/230 58.6%
• Kavalan Solist Bourbon Cask B111202001A, Bottle 117/200 57.1%*
  

  Photo: Keshav Prakash

• Kavalan Solist Brandy Cask AO90709055 Bottle 052/281 55.6%
• Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask R091214006A Bottle No 043/137 54.8%
• Kavalan Solist Port Cask 0090728014A Bottle 188/205 58.6%
• Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S0906080388 Bottle 098/522 57.8%
• Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask R091214006A Bottle No 043/137 54.8%
• Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S1001200358, Bottle No 025/507 57.8%
• Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S081229026 Bottle No 421/527 55.6%
• Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S090102020 Bottle No 258/511 57.1%
• Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S090608029A Bottle No 269/485 58.6%
• Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask S1001290048 Bottle 102/489 57.8%
• Kavalan Solist Fino Sherry Cask FI1007070264 Bottle 441/575 57%
• Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique (2012) W120727102A Bottle 213/231 57.1%
• Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique (2016) W160331032A 57.1%

Thailand

• Prakaan
  • Prakaan Select Cask 43%
  • Prakaan Double Cask 43%
  • Prakaan Peated 43%

Related Asia posts:

• 5 Best Japanese Whiskies
• Chinese local liquor
• Revisiting Japanese whiskies
• Whisky Live Singapore – King Kavalan
• Whisky Live Singapore’s Collector’s Room – Yamazaki 12 year (1996/2009) 60%

Special Asia-themed evenings:

• Whisky Ladies & BMC Japanese Blends – Old and New – Suntory Excellence vs Old 40%, Nikka Super Rare Old 43%
• BMC Goes to Japan – Hibiki Japanese Harmony “Master’s Select” NAS 43%, Nikka All Malt 40%, Miyagikyo NAS 45%, Hakushu “Distiller’s Reserve” NAS 43%
• Far East Evening – Togouchi Kiwami 40%, The Nikka 12 Year 43%, Yoichi Single Malt 45%, Kavalan “Solist” Cask B101124001A 58.6%
• Original Club’s Kavalan Solist Cask Night – Brandy Cask 55.6%, Port Cask 58.6%, Sherry Cask 57.8%
• Original Club’s “Straight from Tokyo” Suntory’s Chita Single Grain Whisky 12 Year, Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu 2009 French Oak Cask, Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 17 Year, Ichiro’s Malt – possibly Houou-uhi
• Whisky Ladies Diwali Drams – Hakushu 43%, K5 40% vs Misty Peak 40%, Nikka From the Barrel 51.4% vs Super Nikka Whisky 43% (revival version)
• Whisky Ladies go East – Kavalan Concertmaster Port Cask Finish 40%, Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No S1001200358 57.8%, Nikka Coffey Grain 45% with Chinese baijiu
• Whisky Ladies Asian Delights – Akashi White Oak Single Malt 40%, Nikka Coffey Malt 45%, Kavalan Classic 40%, Nikka From the Barrel 51.4%

Interested in more? Check out:

• Latest posts
• Whiskies by region/country
• Tasting sessions
• Whisky Ladies Corner