Japanese whisky is outperforming competitors they once imitated
Last month, at a tasting event, ‘Judgement of Glasgow,’ a panel of industry experts blind-tasted five examples of whisky from both countries.
In a result that likely left Scots horrified, Japan claimed victory, winning three out of five rounds.
And it’s not the first time that Scotland has been shunned by Japan in the whisky stakes.
Japan beat Scotland once again in 2014 when Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was branded “best in the world” by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
Despite the rising competition, Scotch whisky remains strong, with exports hitting £5.3 billion in 2023.
However, the Japanese whisky market is predicted to double between now and the 2030s.
Global demand is increasing by 17% a year as collectors around the world discover its value.
There’s a Japanese whisky brand that’s causing quite a stir and is what we consider to be one of the rising stars of Japanese whiksy – Karuizawa.
As the Karuizawa distillery ceased operations in 2000, its reputation has skyrocketed, with bottles now fetching astronomical prices at auction.
In early 2017, the largest collection of Karuizawa whisky ever auctioned sold for just under £800,000.
The current record for a single bottle of Karuizawa at auction is £363,000 for a Karuizawa 1960 52-Year-Old Zodiac Rat, sold at Sotheby’s in 2020.
These whiskies are now legendary. With no more to be made, their rarity and value continue to soar.
But caution is needed. Karuizawa’s fame has led to a surge in counterfeit bottles on the global market.
You need to source your bottles through an expert.
We managed to get our hands on a rare bottle from the Karuizawa Noh series – the 1980 – 32 Year Old – Cask #7614, which was instantly snapped up by one of our clients.
The moment these become available, they’re snapped up because collectors know their value will only increase over time.
The longer you hold onto one, the greater its appeal at auction, which means you’ll always have an exit strategy.
If you’d like us to keep you in mind for when we next get our hands on one, please get in touch.
