Best Japanese Whiskies Under $100

By Richard Thomas

For a decade now, I have devoted no small amount of effort to deflating the clickbait “bourbon shortage” claims that have been a staple of some pundits and many mainstream media reporters. The scarcity of a bottle like Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year is not a shortage, but the result of a market correcting from rock bottom and back to health; certain brands and expressions were never meant to sit on shelves and command modest prices, and do so only because the entire category has fallen on hard times.

Anyone who wants to know what a shortage really looks like should observe Japanese Whisky. Starting in 2015, sales of Japanese Whisky skyrocketed, often by above +40% year on year. Even in that year, the surge was putting enormous strain on the limited stocks of aged whisky held by what was, at the time, the smallest of the “Big Five” whisky-makers (USA, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and Japan). Suntory responded by steadily raising their prices; Nikka’s answer in 2015 initially was to discontinue all age statements, then raise prices, and only began to bring back age statements back in 2022.

Japanese Whisky remains a special type of unobtanium. Expressions like Yamazaki 12 Year Old were priced on par with similarly aged Scotch whiskies in the early 2010s, but nowadays routinely clock $170. Even so, there are several worthy Japanese whiskies that remain within a reasonable reach, some old favorites and some new expressions introduced to cope with the demand.

Fuji Single Grain ($95): Fuji Distillery is named for the famous mountain that looms over it; the production plant is literally at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Although they make malt whisky there, it is principally a grain whisky distillery, making three different types of grain whisky. As for maturation, the local climate is noted for chilly (averaging 55F) temperatures and humid conditions. Fuji Single Grain is a mix of all three types (the “single” refers to one distillery, not one source of stock), and as it is often noted for its bourbon-like qualities, is a good crossover choice for bourbon fans.

Hibiki Harmony ($80): This is a no age statement (NAS) blended whisky from Suntory, containing malt and grain whiskies from Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita. This was part of Suntory’s strategy to cope with the spiraling demand for their whiskies, replacing Hibiki 12 Year Old, an age statement whisky they discontinued under pressure. This makes Harmony a solid, middle of the road and balanced choice for what Japanese blends (and Suntory blends in particular) are like at this price point.

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Whisky ($98): One of the most idiosyncratic features of Japanese Whisky is how it is governed by no binding laws or regulations. Insofar as any authority inside Japan is concerned, whisky is whatever the maker says it is. This stuff is a perfect example of how that works in practice, because many small Japanese whisky-makers will import whisky from abroad and then export it labeled as “Japanese Whisky.” Ichiro’s is more transparent about its sourcing and origins: with a core of Japanese malt and grain whisky, it blends in Canadian, Scottish, Irish and bourbon whiskeys that were three to five years old at country of origin, then aged a further one to three years in Japan. Technically, this is therefore a Japanese Hybrid, and one that has its fans.

Kaiyō The Signature Mizunara Oak Japanese Whisky ($60): Japan’s unique Mizunara oak has become its signature in modern times, and this expression gives drinkers a shot at accessing its sandalwood and spice flavors in a reasonably priced packed. In another trendy note, it is partially aged at sea. Some confusion exists as to whether this is a single malt or a vatted malt, because the sourcing is undisclosed.

Nikka Coffey Grain Japanese Whisky ($65): One of the old favorites mentioned early, this expression predates the enormous surge in popularity that Japanese Whisky experienced in the early to mid 2010s. The name refers to the dual column still design patented by Irishman Aeneas Coffey, which is used to make grain whisky in all countries following the Scottish model of whisky-making (this divides pot still-made malt whisky from grain whisky, and includes Japan and Ireland). So, like Fuji it is a single grain, in this case made at Nikka’s Miyagikyo Distillery.

Taketsuru Pure Malt ($85): This is a NAS vatted malt, drawing from Nikka’s Yoichi and Miyagikyo. First introduced in 2000, it is another one of those old favorites that predates the era in which whisky enthusiasts went mad for everything Japanese. My guess it has remained in reach because it is not a single malt (because it draws on more than one distillery) and its NAS standing meant Nikka could slide its average age up and down as stocks permitted.

Yoichi NAS Single Malt ($95): The NAS, entry-level single malt from Nikka’s premier malt distillery. Yoichi was built where it was because the location mirrored the climate of Scotland, while the stills continue to be coal-fired to this day. So, Yoichi is the most old fashioned, Scots-mirroring of Japanese whiskies. It also serves as an excellent example, at the end of this list, at just what a whisky shortage looks like. The Yoichi 10 Year Old is back in distribution, but at $175 a bottle; the 12 year old is still discontinued, and collectable bottles fetch $600 or more.