Japanese Whisky reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 275 Reddit reviews across 16 subreddits and 51 posts to rank the best Japanese Whisky brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/whiskey, r/whisky, r/Whiskyporn, r/JapaneseWhisky, r/worldwhisky. Top-rated brands include Nikka (4.3/5), Hibiki (4.5/5), Yamazaki (4.7/5).
Stats
Reviews275
Subreddits16
Posts51
Brands40
Products68
275 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Nikka
4.3
(104)
"Nikka from the Barrel is always an excellent segue into Japanese Whiskey for people who are acclimated to whiskey already."
"Nikka Yoichi is the most peated normal Japanese expression. It’s a beautiful whisky."
"Miyagikyo and yoichi are real good!"
"Miyagikyo and yoichi are real good!"
"Nikka Single Malt Miyagikyo 👍"
"I highly recommend the Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Two very solid whiskies."
"I highly recommend the Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Two very solid whiskies."
"Miyagikyo out of those"
"The Coffey Malt. It’s great."
"Peated Miyagikyo is one of my favorite pours I’ve ever had"
#2
Hibiki
4.5
(41)
"Hibiki Anniversary Blend 100th Anniversary is very good. It's a Japan exclusive."
"Blossom Harmony. I’ve only been able to find it at auction in the states. It’s 🔥"
"The most sought after are Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki 21, both around $500-600 retail."
"Hibiki Harmony, Hibiki 12, Hibiki 17, Chita (Japan-only), Yamazaki, Yamazaki 12, Yamazaki grain (distillery-only) all at MSRP"
"Another excellent option is the Hibiki Japanese Harmony, known for its perfect harmony of fruity and floral elements."
"Hibiki 21 is the star of that line up!"
"I've had the hibiki whisky before and it was delicious."
"Yama 18 and Hibiki 21 are really good but price and availability can hinder the experience."
"Hibiki harmony."
"Hibiki or hokashu are both beautiful"
#3
Yamazaki
4.7
(27)
"I'm a big fan of yamazaki 18."
"Yamazaki 12"
"Yamazaki 12 is genuinely incredible"
"If you ever find the yamazaki at retail price, I say buy two, and sell one to finance the other."
"I have had Hakushu 12, Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki distillers edition. Among those the yamazaki is far beyond the rest"
"I’d spend a little more and grab a Yamazaki 18."
"The most sought after are Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki 21, both around $500-600 retail."
"Go for Yamazaki 🤘"
"For a well-balanced and approachable choice, I highly recommend the Yamazaki 12."
"OMG the Yamazaki 18!!"
#4
Suntory
4.1
(20)
"My intro that I'd suggest from your pics would be the Suntory Toki. I found here for 28-30usd. It's a nice beginner entry level bottle."
"I’ve had a Japanese Highball made with Suntory Toki at a ramen restaurant, and it was amazing!"
"You started on the best one IMO. I have yet to find a Japanese whiskey that I like better and you can't beat Suntory's price."
"I really love Suntory's The Chita and Yamazaki 12."
"I like Toki and can usually find in Costco for less than $30. Good straight, on the rocks and mellow enough to mix at that price point."
"None of them are objectively an excellent value for money, but Toki is good, and is the best choice if you want to try real Japanese whisky."
"I like a few of those. Nikka Yoichi, Nikka Coffey Malt, and the Suntory World."
"A few good ones, id grab that Suntory 'World'"
"Anything from Suntory or Nikka."
"The lotte duty free store sells a limited edition Hibiki masters select bottle for 450 AUD."
#5
Hakushu
4.4
(18)
"Would LOVE to try the Hakushu 18, but haven't had the chance yet."
"My favorite is the Hakushu. Now only 12 yo available but I have a couple of 18’s"
"Hakushu 18 is a bit of a collectors item"
"Hakashu is by far the best."
"The Hakushu Distiller's edition is around 60 quid. Very good very minty and zesty."
"Hakushu 12 doesn't really have a doppleganger"
"They have a great selection of everything but beer. For whiskeys they should have all of the big labels (Hakushu, Yamazaki, Hibiki) at all ages, and some others as well."
"Your best bet is the hakushu or a nikka yoichi. Out of those two I prefer the yoichi, but as a gift id give a hakushu 12."
"Try for duty free editions of ... Hakushu Japanese Forest."
"Hakushu 12 is a very good dram for the money!"
#6
Mars
4.3
(8)
"Iwai Mars Whiskey is my favorite. Priced very fairly online, it's one of the best discoveries I've ever made."
"Mars Iwai tradition with the white label, not the blue label."
"Look for Mars, Yuza or Yoichi if you want some interesting Japanese whisky which isn’t the usual suspects :)"
"Mars is lately getting some good bottlings out from their Tsunuki distillery with affordable single cask options."
"Mars do some decent stuff."
"Look for Mars single malts like Komagatake and Tsunuki. If you can find a single barrel, you've struck gold."
"Hibiki Harmony, Mars Iwai Tradition, Suntory Toki, Askashi White Oak, if you like proof Nikka from the Barrel is better than all of these"
"The Mars Iwai Tradition is also very good value."
#7
Nikka from the Barrel
5.0
(4)
"Nikka from the barrel"
"Nikka from the barrel!"
"Nikka from the barrel is very good at about 40 quid."
"Nikka from the barrel is awesome."
#8
Chichibu
5.0
(4)
"Absolute best - Chichibu, but even in Japan they are hard to find."
"Top Choice: Chichibu ( pricey even in Japan)"
"Any Chichibu. Considered by those in the know about Japanese whisky to be up there with some of the best around (and I concur)."
"This is the very first comment I’ve read and it’s exactly what I would say….Chichibu."
#9
Akashi
4.0
(5)
"Akashi Single Malt was phenomenal when I tried it!"
"Akashi white oak is another option should be in the $35-50 range."
"For the money Akashi White Oak is pretty good too."
"Not on your list but I'd pick akashi $40 or Mars Iwai $33."
"You could also check out Akashi (dumpy little bottles, mostly 500ml from my experience). They also do some solid stuff."
#10
Fuji
4.0
(4)
"I will 100% get this over any Yamazaki or Hibiki, they are much more value for money."
"Fuji Single Grain"
"The first thing that came to mind was Fuji Single Grain, but there are lots of options."
"Edit to add - Fuji Sa"
#11
Yamazaki 12
5.0
(3)
"Yamazaki 12"
"I've been seeing Yamazaki 12 and Hakushu 12 on the shelf in my area around $120."
"Yamazaki 12. £120. Just do it."
#12
Chita
3.7
(3)
"Chita and Wild Turkey 12 are readily available; also try for duty free editions of Yamazaki Smokey Batch and Hakushu Japanese Forest."
"The Chita is a nice Japanese whisky I enjoyed recently."
"In the Japanese realm I think Chita also puts out a grain whisky, but it may be harder to find than the Nikka."
#13
Hakushu 12
5.0
(2)
"Hakushu 12 is probably as good as you can go without breaking the bank too bad."
"I'm not gonna pay $140 + for what I see it going for at most stores."
#14
Hibiki Harmony
5.0
(2)
"Hibiki Harmony"
"A wine sommelier... gave me a taste of Hibiki Harmony. It was amazing!"
#15
Ichiro's Malt
4.5
(2)
"Try as much Ichiro's Chichibu (not the malt and grain) you can find"
"I'd also suggest Ichrio's Malt, but the standard malt and grain bottles (White leaf and blue leaf) are available in the US (cheaper in Japan)."
#16
Kaiyo
4.5
(2)
"Probably the best whiskey I've had was Kaiyo-The Sheri, red bottle really good would recommend."
"I actually really love Kaiyo."
#17
Kavalan
4.5
(2)
"Kavalan Soloist Port is delicious."
"For the price and mellow flavor, I’d highly recommend Kavalan Port Cask."
#18
Kanosuke
4.0
(2)
"Second Choice: Kanosuke"
"Maybe see if you can try some stuff from ... Kanosuke as they are pretty hard to find in the US right now."
#19
Hibiki Blender's Choice
5.0
(1)
"If you can find Hibiki Blender's Choice, that would be the no-brainer pick for me."
#20
Hibiki 12
5.0
(1)
"I would go with Hibiki 12 for its approachability, smoothness and great bottle."
#21
Ichiro's
5.0
(1)
"Ichiro's malt and grain blended whiskey. This stuff changed my opinion on Japanese whiskey."
#22
Amahagan
5.0
(1)
"Amahagan edition 3 matured in mizunara wood is excellent for about $60."
#23
Iwai
5.0
(1)
"Iwai 45? Suntory."
#24
Kujira
5.0
(1)
"A good topshelf alternative is Kujira 21."
#25
Saburomaru
5.0
(1)
"I fell in love with the Saburomaru whiskey"
#26
Koshi-No-Shinobu
5.0
(1)
"The best Japanese whisky I've ever had was Koshi-No-Shinobu."
#27
Liquors Hasegawa
5.0
(1)
"Liquors Hasegawa was the best liquor store I visited in Japan."
#28
Ichiro
4.0
(1)
"I'd look for anything made by Ichiro, or maybe a nice Nikka Yoichi 15."
#29
Nikka Coffey Grain
4.0
(1)
"I find the nikka coffey grain, and nikka whisky from the barrel as top notch quality whiskies."
#30
Yoichi
4.0
(1)
"Yoichi"
#31
Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt
4.0
(1)
"I may actually recommend Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt."
#32
Ohishi
4.0
(1)
"Ohishi sherry cask is really, really good."
#33
Hatozaki
4.0
(1)
"Hatozaki Pure Malt is a lovely sipper and wont break the bank."
#34
Matsui
4.0
(1)
"Matsui's Mizunara is pretty good at that point."
#35
Nagahama
4.0
(1)
"Maybe see if you can try some stuff from Nagahama"
#36
Akkeshi
4.0
(1)
"I’d look for some Akkeshi - they are from Hokkaido and use local peat. Really good stuff"
#37
Asahikawa
4.0
(1)
"Hibiki Harmony, Mars Iwai Tradition, Suntory Toki, Askashi White Oak, if you like proof Nikka from the Barrel is better than all of these"
#38
Blanton's
4.0
(1)
"A few that come to mind are Blanton's Takara Red, Wild Turkey 12 (I think there's an 8 as well), and Four Roses Super Premium."
#39
Ryuka
4.0
(1)
"But if you want to bring something unique, I recommend Ryuka"
#40
Life Vacation
4.0
(1)
"Found 100th Y18 at a small shop called Life Vacation in the Ginza."
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