Yamazaki ‘must-have’ whisky turns 100 as global demand soars

4 comments

1. Good luck finding some at any reasonable price.

2. If you’re in Japan and want to try a variety without paying a crazy markup, there’s a bar called [Genka Bar](https://genkabar.jp/) or “Cost Price Bar”. You pay an entrance charge, but all alcohol inside is sold at the MSRP, or so they claim.

   They used to have multiple locations, with different cover charges and various offerings, but it looks like they are down to just one near Tamachi and Mita stations. Entrance charge is 2,500 yen, but when you’re only paying ¥690 for a Hibiki Blender’s Choice versus ¥2,090 at The Whiskey Library, a few drinks will cover it.

3. Speaking as someone that works in alcohol: I feel Yamazaki is so massively overrated. It is by no means a bad whisky, but there are some better options out there for way less.

   IMO, Yamazaki has this scarcity because of the boom of whisky being bought in China, so much so that some sellers will not even sell their bottles if they sense you’re from China. Not for race reasons but that the Chinese tourists were buying several bottles and bringing them back to China and reselling for ~10x their regular price.

   If you’re visiting japan and want Japanese whisky, I would way sooner go to Hakushu, Nikka has some nice premium whiskies, and my personal favorite is the Nikka Coffey Grain or Malt.

   Most people I know that buy Yamazaki here are finance bros or recruiters that buy bottles and just line them up on their office shelves to flex on clients.

   But hey, I guess it’s subjective.

4. ive tried yamazaki in japan before the war, before the pandemic, before any price hikes. it was goddamned awfully as good as suntory. no big deal. suntory is goodnuff