Table of Contents
Foreword Lew Bryson, author of Tasting Whiskey 007
Part 1 Japanese Whisky Comes Of Age 008
Japan's Whisk(e)y History Begins 012
The Local Drinks: Sake and Shochu 014
Foreign Drinks Invade Japan 017
The Scottish Connection 020
The Revolutionary Sake-Inspired Malting Process 024
How Japanese Whisky Swept the World 025
The Karuizawa Distillery: A Japanese Legend 028
How Japanese Whisky is Made 029
About Japanese Barley and peat 034
Precious Made-in-Japan Casks 036
Making Japanese Whisky Even More Japanese 039
The Barrel Apprentice 040
Japan's Whisky Drinking Culture 042
Crafting a Very Japanese Cocktail 044
What Makes Japanese Whisky "Japanese"? 048
Part 2 Japan's Leading Distilleries And Whiskies 056
Suntory Yamazaki Distillery 058
The Hakushu Distillery and the Sun Grain Chita Distillery 065
Tasting Notes for 29 Suntory Whiskies 073
Eigashima Shuzo White Oak Whisky Distillery 078
Tasting Notes for 12 Eigashima Shuzo Whiskies 083
Nikka Yoichi Distillery 086
The Miyagikyo Distillery 095
Tasting Notes for 28 Nikka Whiskies 101
Hombo Shuzo Mars Whisky Shinshu Distillery 106
The Tsunuki Distillery 112
Tasting Notes for 13 Hombo Shuzo Whiskies 115
Kirin Fuji Gotemba Distillery 118
Tasting Notes for 8 Kirin Whiskies 124
Venture Whisky Chichibu Distillery 126
Tasting Notes for 15 Venture Whiskies 135
Afterword: The Future of Japanese Whisky 138
Acknowledgments 144