Humiliation for Scotland as Japan's whisky is named 'best in world'

UK Daily Mail ^ | November 3, 2014 | Richard Mardsen

[C19fan]

Japan has given the Scotch whisky industry a ‘wake up call’ - after a single malt from the Far East was named the best in the world. Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 has been given the title by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible - which describes the drink as a work of ‘near incredible genius’. For the first time, the 2015 edition of the renowned publication features no Scottish distillery in its top five.

[cll]

I just came back from a trip that included Scotland. I can’t believe that the Scotch over there is far more expensive than it is where I live on this side of the pond.

[C19fan]

I wonder if that’s is due to taxation.

[discostu]

Yamazaki is really good. I don’t know about best. But definitely good.

[ClearCase_guy]

Well, now the UK will probably FORCE Scotland to be an independent nation. No one likes a loser.

[katana]

And the relative values of the Pound and Dollar. The distilleries and shops along the Whisky Trail sell at retail with taxes included. The result can be sticker shock for US visitors. Importers buy at a discount in large quantity and this negates the effect of the inflated Pound and weak Dollar.

[knarf]

I never developed a "taste" for whisky (or ANY hard alcohol) .. though I DID try ... often

Always ended up losing consciousness before determining whether good, bad, tasty or not .... most of the time that unconsciousness was a walking zombie I heard about the next day.

BEER, otoh is quite easily discerned and more enjoyable ... imo.

[ViLaLuz]

This is so typically Japanese—to borrow from another culture and then excel.

[CrazyIvan]

The Japanese have loved Scotch for a long time. I remember reading an interview with Adm. Matome Ugaki where the interviewer stated that he arrived with a bottle of very high end Scotch because he knew it was a favorite of his.

[Dusty Road]

Give me Canadian or don’t call it Whisky and yes I know the difference between Whisky and Whiskey.

[Savage Beast]

First the U.S. and French wine...

Now this...!

[katana]

Oh, and the Japanese (and American & Canadian) versions of “Whisky” are required by international trademark agreement to be spelled “Whiskey”. Even if the method of distilling and aging (in used American fired oak Bourbon barrels) is the same and they’re informally calling it Scotch.

[Fantasywriter]

For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.

[Brother Cracker]

[eggman]

I've had the 12 and the 18 year old and both are good but I don't put either one at the top of my list at either range. Yamazaki is not easy to find around here either.

My current favorite is Highland Park 18 year old but it really depends what I am looking for at the time. I'll go from bourbon to rye to scotch. There are different things that I like about each and I'm still looking for the best I've every tasted.

[elcid1970]

“Satisfy the imaginative taste of your alter ego - Suntory”

[Palio di Siena]

Sort of the way American exceptionalism came into being.
Borrow the best from other countries.
Sad to say we are now borrowing the worst from other cultures.
What can possibly go wrong?

[edpc]

I used to feel the same way about spirits. Recently I gave them a second chance of actually found some that are quite good. The only one I still can’t seem to tolerate however is tequila. Got very ill off of it as a young man and can’t go back. Rye is making a comeback and I’ve tried a few of those that I like a lot.

[Vigilanteman]

The Japanese have a long habit of doing this with a whole lot of other stuff invented elsewhere: the automobile, the fax machine, the transistor . . . so why not a relatively low tech product like an alcoholic beverage?

[warsaw44]

How much would a bottle of such a whiskey cost? I would enjoy giving it a taste.