The rise of Japanese whisky

Japanese distillers are giving Scotch a run for its money – these are the best bottles to try

Whisky casks in the Yamazaki Distillery in Mishima, Osaka, Japan.
The Japanese whisky industry is slated to be worth £7.2 billion by 2032
(Image credit: Alamy / Scott Sim)

"It's official – Japanese whisky has been declared better than Scotch," said Eleanor Dye in the Daily Mail. Industry experts gathered at the Pot Still bar in Glasgow in August for a "landmark" blind tasting organised by mixer drinks company Fever-Tree. 

In a result that will "horrify any Scot", Japan secured a "shock victory", winning more votes in three categories out of five. Among the winning bottles was Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve which beat Scotland's Caol Ila 12 Year Old to scoop the top spot for the best single malt under £100.

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Irenie Forshaw is a features writer at The Week, covering arts, culture and travel. She began her career in journalism at Leeds University, where she wrote for the student newspaper, The Gryphon, before working at The Guardian and The New Statesman Group. Irenie then became a senior writer at Elite Traveler, where she oversaw The Experts column.