Japanese whisky continues to earn global acclaim, with recent results from the World Whiskies Awards 2024 highlighting some of the country’s top distillers. These awards reflect Japan’s unique approach, blending tradition with innovation in whisky-making. There are even some award-winning new make expressions included in this list!
In this second part of our awards roundup, we look at some of Japan’s standout releases. From Nikka’s Discovery series blend to high-proof young expressions from Niigata Kameda and Tamba, these whiskies demonstrate Japan’s growing strength in both traditional and experimental whisky production. Some of these expressions are extremely difficult to find outside of Japan, and there is limited information about them online. So, if you have tried any of the new make expressions, let us know. Read part 1 here.
Nikka The Grain
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Category: Grain
Tasting Notes: Verbena, chamomile, pineapple, vanilla, almond milk, coconut, cinnamon, ginger, mint, acacia honey, floral (via Master of Malt)
BUY NOW: $124.95
Nikka The Grain is a distinctive expression within Nikka‘s Discovery series, highlighting the company’s innovative approach to whisky production. This blend comprises seven unique grain whiskies sourced from Nikka’s distilleries. One of the key components is Coffey Grain whisky from the Miyagikyo Distillery, known for its rich and mellow character.
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The production process involves blending various grain whiskies, each contributing unique characteristics. Notably, the blend includes Coffey Grain and Coffey Malt whiskies. Additionally, it incorporates barley grain and corn & rye whiskies distilled in pot stills at the Moji and Satsumatsukasa distilleries, which originally specialized in shochu production. This combination results in a whisky with a creamy texture and a complex palette of complementary aromas.
The use of Coffey stills, traditional continuous column stills named after their inventor Aeneas Coffey, is central to Nikka’s grain whisky production. These stills, imported from Scotland in the 1960s, are valued for their ability to produce whisky with a rich texture and full-bodied flavor. By blending whiskies from different distilleries and production methods, Nikka The Grain showcases the company’s dedication to exploring the diversity of grain whisky.
This expression is bottled at 48% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
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Shindo New Make Peated
Medal: Gold
Category: New Make & Young Spirit
Tasting Notes: “expresses subtle aromas without masking everything with peaty flavors” (via SHINDO LAB)
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This new make spirit from Shindo is a spirit that “looks forward to aging.” Many assume that new make spirit (i.e. before it has been matured into whisky) will be tasteless and lack complexity. However, SHINDO LAB insists that the opposite is true.
Distilled from peat-dried malted barley, the new-make spirit “embodies the idea of creating new make with intention,” according to the brand website. The distillery uses multiple yeast strains in fermentation in order to produce a sweet lactone aroma.
According to the brand website, the pursuit of this aroma was integral to its ethos: “Our goal was to pursue minor aromas that make up less than 1% of the total. To achieve this, we use chemical evidence in each process, from raw material processing to saccharification, mash cultivation, and distillation, to firmly construct and weave in the desired aroma components in our raw liquor production.”
Shinozaki Co., Ltd., Shindo Lab’s parent company, has been producing sake for over 100 years, slowly refining the craft. This experience has made for an experimental approach to whiskey-making. In 2025, SHINDO LAB plans to release its first aged expression.
Yoichi 10 Year Old
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Category: Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Peach, vanilla, peat smoke, nutmeg, oily, oak (via Master of Malt)
BUY NOW: $155
The Yoichi 10 Year Old is a distinguished single malt whisky from Nikka’s Yoichi Distillery, established in 1934 on Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido. The distillery employs traditional Scottish methods, notably using direct coal-fired pot stills, a technique that imparts a robust character to the spirit.
The whisky matures for a minimum of ten years in a combination of ex-bourbon, sherry, and new oak casks, contributing to its complex profile.
In 2022, Nikka reintroduced the Yoichi 10 Year Old after a hiatus, commemorating the Yoichi Distillery‘s designation as an “Important Cultural Property” of Japan. This release featured updated packaging, reflecting the distillery’s heritage and the whisky’s esteemed status. The reintroduction underscores Nikka’s dedication to traditional whisky-making practices while celebrating its historical significance in the industry.
Yuza Medium Peated 2023 Spring 62%
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Category: Single Cask Single Malt
Tasting Notes: N/A
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As is the case with many award-winning Japanese whiskies, the Yuza Medium peated 2023 Spring Edition is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to source outside of Japan.
The Yuza Medium Peated 2023 Spring is a distinguished single cask single malt whisky from Japan’s Yuza Distillery, bottled at a robust 62% ABV. This expression showcases a medium peated profile, offering a balanced smokiness that complements its rich character. Notably, it was recognized as a category winner at the World Whiskies Awards 2024, underscoring its exceptional quality.
Crafted by the Kinryu Corporation, the Yuza Distillery is situated at the foot of Mount Chokai in Yamagata Prefecture. The distillery draws upon the pristine waters of the region, contributing to the whisky’s purity and depth. The Yuza Medium Peated 2023 Spring was distilled in 2019 and matured in a single cask (#529), with bottling occurring in Spring 2023.
The Yuza Distillery, established in 2018, emphasizes traditional Scottish whisky-making techniques, utilizing pot stills crafted by Forsyths of Scotland. Their commitment to quality is evident in their meticulous production processes and the acclaim their whiskies have garnered on the international stage.
Niigata Kameda New Born No. 20 Cask Strength 60%
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Category: New Make & Young Spirit
Tasting Notes: N/A
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The Niigata Kameda Distillery was founded in 2019 in Niigata City, Japan by a subsidiary of Otani, a seal-making company. With the seal industry shrinking, Otani executive, Mr. Koji Douda, pushed to turn one of the seal warehouses into a distillery. Being a relatively new enterprise, the distillery began producing whisky in 2021 using stills made by Forsyths in Scotland.
This “new born” expression is distilled from malted barley supplied by Crisp and Muntons, although in the future Niigata Kameda plans to work with local Japanese farmers to cultivate six-row barley. Barley, is,as such, a very important aspect of Niigata Kameda’s experimental Japanese whisky making. Unaged expressions such as this show the complexity that already exists within different barley and yeast strains, even before maturation.
This expression is bottled at an impressive 60% ABV. Again, this is very hard to find outside of Japan. However, a couple of Niigata Kameda expressions have appeared at Whisky Auctioneer in the UK.
Niigata Kameda New Pot Non Peat 2024 Edition
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Category: New Make & Young Spirit
Tasting Notes: N/A
BUY NOW: N/A
Much like the above, the Niigata Kameda New Pot Non Peat 2024 Edition is an unaged Japanese whisky produced by the Niigata Kameda Distillery. Bottled at 60% ABV, this expression is crafted exclusively from British malted barley and is distilled using traditional pot still methods. The absence of peat in the production process results in a clean, malt-forward profile, allowing the inherent characteristics of the barley to shine.
While the New Pot Non Peat 2024 Edition is primarily available within Japan, international enthusiasts may find it through select specialty retailers or by visiting the distillery.
Tamba Distillery New Born Non Peat Single Malt 19 Months Old
Medal: Gold, Category Winner
Category: New Make & Young Spirit
Tasting Notes: N/A
BUY NOW: N/A
The Tamba Distillery’s New Born Non Peat Single Malt 19 Months Old is a young Japanese whisky that has garnered attention for its quality and craftsmanship. Bottled at 53.4% ABV, this expression is crafted exclusively from malted barley and is unpeated, allowing the natural malt flavors to be the focal point.
You will notice that the image of the bottle does not match the bottle details above. Perhaps due to the elusive nature of this expression, World Whiskies Awards used an image of a 21 month old expression on their website.
Established in 2018, the Tamba Distillery is situated in the Tamba region of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The distillery benefits from the area’s significant temperature variations, which contribute to the maturation process of their whiskies. The New Born Non Peat Single Malt is aged for 19 months, a relatively short period that still imparts notable character to the spirit.
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