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If you're craving the warm, relaxing embrace that only a snifter of the world's finest scotch can deliver, be prepared to head east. Far east.

After a review of some 4,500 varieties of whisky, scotch and whiskey (the differing names are more about geography than style or manufacture), the 2015 World Whisky Bible has named Japan's Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 as the best in the world. In fact, no Scottish or Irish varieties were even in the top five — a first in the award's history. While praising Yamazaki's "nose of exquisite boldness" and finish of "light, teasing spice," the Whisky Bible's Jim Murray told The Independent the winner was "a single malt which no Scotch can at the moment [can] get anywhere near."

Perhaps Scotland's distillers can formulate a comeback plan over a heaping plate of local sushi.