My Top 5 JAPANESE WHISKIES To Try Before You DIE!

This time we go really really East to the land of the rising sun and pick 5 whiskies from Japan that you must try before you die!
00:00 INTRO
02:00 WHISKY 1
07:23 WHISKY 2
11:15 WHISKY 3
14:33 WHISKY 4
16:20 WHISKY 5
18:39 FINAL THOUGHTS & HONORABLE MENTIONS

[@jameswrightesq]

Great list mate. Very informative. Sorry to see you aren't sharing videos much recently. Always appreciated your view and insights. Peace out dude!

[@cliffnorman178]

Yet another fantastically entertaining video. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@MaltActivist]

Thank you Cliff! Hadn't heard from you in a long time. Hope you're well.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Just finished the Miyagikyo and Yoichi NAS bottles and really enjoyed them. Am thinking about getting the Hakushu and Yamazaki distillers reserve (NAS) too. Cheers

[@MaltActivist]

Good call. Let me know how you like them.

[@AB-kf8ry]

I've had the Hibiki 17 back in 2016. I also enjoy the Miyagikyo NAS, but didn't know that they use Mizunara casks in the Miyagikyo whiskies. That's interesting to know.

[@tooslow1614]

Thank you

[@ravishankarbhatt5090]

There is a triple whammy with Japanese Whisky. First finding a thoroughbred Made in Japan from Japanese malt. Then actually finding the Whisky and lastly finding a bank that you can Rob to actually afford the Whisky. As always nice list.

[@MaltActivist]

Couldn't agree with you more!

[@WhiskeyQuests]

Dang! What a selection. Too bad I got into whisky a little too late. Would’ve loved to try these at least once. But I’ve been very fortunate of others sharing their collection with me. I think the only Japanese dram to blow me away was the Nikka Coffey Grain. Still haven’t found the Coffey Malt anywhere. Are those gone too? 🤔

[@MaltActivist]

I'm not sure whether they're still available but I have em both on the shelf. Maybe next video?

[@WhiskyNotesCS]

YES! Tried every whisky from this list. Now i can go.... :D Also tried: - Yamazaki 12 & 18 - Hakushu 12 & 18 - Yoichi 20 - Hibiki 21 - Chichibu "The Peated" ;)

[@MaltActivist]

That's a great list !

[@carl7763]

I preferred the Miyagikyo 12 vs the 15 🙂 & the Yoichi distillery is a great visit

[@MaltActivist]

They're both great!

[@ruchikag100]

Dont know if you tried Toki Suntory Whisky.. Its a great introduction to the enormous pallete Japanese whiskies really offer!

[@cato451]

Good list. Sadly Japanese whisky has become rediculously expensive. Buying these 15 - 20 years ago they were reasonable. I’ve had all on your list and the Yoichi 15 is my favorite. The Ichiro card series is awesome but as you say, impossible to find. I do have a 30 YO Karuizawa I bought years ago which promises to be excellent but you don’t even mention Karuizawa because those are even more impossible to find.

[@MaltActivist]

Sad state of affairs isn't it ! But I'm glad we at least go to try some of them before things went crazy. Feel sad for the new whisky drinkers!

[@iluvcakes19]

Everything has become expensive. I'm really into cars as well as whiskey and it's absolutely ridiculous.

[@user-bt8wc4os7x]

I found the Ichiro card series and at a decent price on my trips to Tokyo. The Ace of Hearts and Ten of Diamonds made it home with me. :D

[@cato451]

@@user-bt8wc4os7x nice! Must be about ten years ago now I found a great whisky bar in Kyoto. That’s where I sampled a few from the card series. So great. Enjoy!!

[@Pineapplelesspineapplepizza]

@@MaltActivistIf one could afford it, would you recommend it to buy these and collect them? Like a collectible that will go up in price in the future? Asking since I enjoy collecting bottles but I wouldn’t mind collecting full bottles :)

[@DileepB]

How about the Hibiki Harmony?

[@MaltActivist]

Average, at best, in my opinion.

[@iluvcakes19]

I literally just had it yesterday and I absolutely adore it. It was the smoothest whiskey I've ever had.

[@jayp9158]

@@iluvcakes19it’s easy to find, decently priced, tasty, and not one the “fake” Japanese whiskeys. It’s honestly always a good purchase

[@SK-bk3yh]

If I'm correct, you ideally prefer an abv of 46% or higher?

[@MaltActivist]

It's my preferred ABV, yes.

[@miszjli]

If you ever get to go to the yamazaki or hakushu distillery, get the Hakushu 25 at the tasting table. Still dreaming about that taste.

[@MaltActivist]

I really hope one day I can do that. Lucky you!

[@Kberrysal]

Have you had Shimauta 5 Yr Ryukyu Japanese Whisky

[@MaltActivist]

I have not, actually. Tell me more....

[@kenshin2820]

I tried hakushu12, unaged hibiki and taketsuru. I have to say Im not really impressed with the unaged while hakushu 12 at least give some punch. That being said, you make the yoichi15 sounds super hype. Unfortunately, I was too young when those were at a reasonable find

[@MaltActivist]

The Yoichi 15 is a class apart!

[@dipati86]

have you tried Nikka 12? I heard it has been discontinued

[@MaltActivist]

I have actually. It's a blended whisky if I'm not mistaken.

[@dipati86]

@@MaltActivist Yes it is, if i am not mistaken 65% malt and 35% grain.

[@Richard-ck5zk]

I have them all except the Miyagikyo... Seems super hard to find!

[@MaltActivist]

Oh yeah - super hard!

[@Weydert]

Nothing really to add regarding the quality and complexity of the whiskies that you picked. Sadly, right now none of them are available at a reasonable price, if at all. Currently available Japanese whiskies are bland and lacklustre, and offer disappointingly little value for money (with the exception perhaps of the Nikka from the Barrel). Oh how I miss the heydays of Japanese whisky when you would walk away from the liquor shop with the occasional Karuizawa single cask bottle without having overdrawn your bank account.

[@MaltActivist]

Man, I really miss those days.

[@SarawakPollster]

I had a flight of Taketsuru in Tokyo 3 years ago which included the 17 all the way to the 21... Stunning whisky!

[@MaltActivist]

damn, nice one!

[@krishnar3493]

It takes a brave man like you to do this video. As always, great knowledge to share, excellent presentation and production values, second to none.. Its not jealousy but some of these Japanese whiskies at such lower strength are too delicate and frail. Compare that to some cheap cask strength Islays or bourbons that come for 1/10 or 1/20 of that price. Even during the time they existed cheap, I never gravitated towards them.

[@MaltActivist]

Fair point. I explored Japanese whiskies before they became big purely from the point of view of discovering new flavor profiles. And I was being honest about the Hakushu and Yoichi when I said there is a certain earthiness and brine that gives these whiskies such a unique flavor profile. Luckily I've had my fair share of fun with them so no regrets!

[@krishnar3493]

@@MaltActivist Lucky man. If I am honest, I too would have been happy had I bought all those bottles back then. Not that I would drink them, just purely from an investment point that would have been a victory. The ones you have, a Yama 25 or a Karuizawa 30. I would sell em all. Let some sucker somewhere open them on his chosen day. Who knows, I would need all that money one day when I need to replace my liver 😆

[@MaltActivist]

@@krishnar3493 I think we all need a liver replacement fund

[@22grena]

The Yamasaki is selling for £10,000 online.

[@MaltActivist]

WHAT?????