Oct 18, 2019, 5:22 pm
Last edit by: armagebedar
This thread is about where to find whiskey in Japan. Extended discussion about where to find Japanese whiskey elsewhere is off topic and will be removed.
Per FlyerTalk rule 10, nothing may be bought, sold, or traded on this forum:
Per FlyerTalk rule 10, nothing may be bought, sold, or traded on this forum:
FlyerTalk is not a marketplace and nothing may be offered for sale or barter. The exception to this rule is those items in the Coupon Connection (C.C.) Forum, which is governed by specific posting rules, and access to which is granted once you have achieved 180 posts and 180 days as a member.
Consolidated "Buy Whiskey in Japan" thread (was: Haneda/Narita Duty Free Whiskey)
Jul 6, 2015, 9:35 am
#151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Wasn't in San Francisco at the time (was in China so no ability to even make an attempt). I'm hoping another shipment comes in the near future.
It's a shame to see the great prices at NRT and HND slowly go away. Hopefully Nikka doesn't follow the greedy path of Suntory and produce a tourist only version of their NAS that raises the price through the roof
It's a shame to see the great prices at NRT and HND slowly go away. Hopefully Nikka doesn't follow the greedy path of Suntory and produce a tourist only version of their NAS that raises the price through the roof
Jul 6, 2015, 2:08 pm
#152
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
Wasn't in San Francisco at the time (was in China so no ability to even make an attempt). I'm hoping another shipment comes in the near future.
It's a shame to see the great prices at NRT and HND slowly go away. Hopefully Nikka doesn't follow the greedy path of Suntory and produce a tourist only version of their NAS that raises the price through the roof
It's a shame to see the great prices at NRT and HND slowly go away. Hopefully Nikka doesn't follow the greedy path of Suntory and produce a tourist only version of their NAS that raises the price through the roof
Jul 24, 2015, 6:43 pm
#153
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
Hi everyone,
I live in Tokyo and a family member has asked me to bring back some Japanese whiskey (specifically Nikka or Hibiki) in the 12~18 year range. I am not a whiskey drinker myself so I've never tried to buy any - does anyone know what the situation is like at Narita these days? I'm debating whether to try and pick some bottles up at retail but then I remembered duty free - but judging by the posts this year, it sounds like the markup at duty free has been pretty harsh...
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
I live in Tokyo and a family member has asked me to bring back some Japanese whiskey (specifically Nikka or Hibiki) in the 12~18 year range. I am not a whiskey drinker myself so I've never tried to buy any - does anyone know what the situation is like at Narita these days? I'm debating whether to try and pick some bottles up at retail but then I remembered duty free - but judging by the posts this year, it sounds like the markup at duty free has been pretty harsh...
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Jul 27, 2015, 5:19 am
#154
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Don't buy at Narita. Earlier this month, the same bottle of Hibiki 12 that cost ~Y6,000 in the city was Y10,000 (or was it Y12,000?) at the airport.
Also, vintage Nikka Yoichi is practically unobtainable at the moment, and the price of anything >15 yo has shot through the roof. NRT was advertising Hibiki 30 for Y250,000 a pop (>US$2000), and they were still sold out.
Also, vintage Nikka Yoichi is practically unobtainable at the moment, and the price of anything >15 yo has shot through the roof. NRT was advertising Hibiki 30 for Y250,000 a pop (>US$2000), and they were still sold out.
Jul 31, 2015, 5:29 pm
#155
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
Personally, I think this is a silly idea and waste of time and something that could be of more value. Come on suntory. Spend more money on producing more.
http://m.thestar.com/#/article/news/world/2015/07/31/japanese-whisky-set-to-blast-off-into-space.html
http://m.thestar.com/#/article/news/world/2015/07/31/japanese-whisky-set-to-blast-off-into-space.html
Aug 9, 2015, 5:17 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: HNL & SFO
Programs: UA MM/Gold
Posts: 292
For those of you in the SF Bay Area, the Redwood City location is the only Costco that has any Hibiki in stock. I went there yesterday and loaded up. They had 30 bottles when I got there, and only 20 when I left. 
They had the 12 and 17 year. I doubt it'll be around after another day or so.
They had the 12 and 17 year. I doubt it'll be around after another day or so.
Aug 10, 2015, 10:04 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
For those of you in the SF Bay Area, the Redwood City location is the only Costco that has any Hibiki in stock. I went there yesterday and loaded up. They had 30 bottles when I got there, and only 20 when I left.
They had the 12 and 17 year. I doubt it'll be around after another day or so.
They had the 12 and 17 year. I doubt it'll be around after another day or so.
Aug 10, 2015, 6:39 pm
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
For those of you in the SF Bay Area, the Redwood City location is the only Costco that has any Hibiki in stock. I went there yesterday and loaded up. They had 30 bottles when I got there, and only 20 when I left.
They had the 12 and 17 year. I doubt it'll be around after another day or so.
They had the 12 and 17 year. I doubt it'll be around after another day or so.
Maybe they'll make one more shipment between now and the end of August when I go back to the East Coast.
Aug 11, 2015, 10:42 pm
#160
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 449
Was in Narita today (Terminal 1) heading home to the US. Picked up a lot of Japan whisky while in Japan (including a Yamazaki 18 & Yamazaki Limited Edition 2015, Hibiki 17, plus other brands, Ichiro's Malt, Mars, White Oak), in department stores, liquor shops and Bic Camera. Supplies are decent for the 12 year versions, but 18 years are limited throughout Japan, but if you're persistent or lucky, you may come a store that gets a few in on the day you visit. But Narita is a major no-no if you want to get good whisky at reasonable prices. They've got 3 of the popular aged Suntory Whiskys single malts Yamazaki 18, Hakushu 18 and the blended Hibiki 17 & 30 all the "Travel Editions", in stock. The only difference between the travel editions and the regular aged editions, is the fancier bottle, with etching and box (wooden, as opposed to cardboard). It's still the same exact aged whisky. The price difference is, however, significant.
Yamazaki 18 (purchased at Bic Camera) = 24,000 Yen (no tax)
Yamazaki 18 Travel edition(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hakushu 18 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 22,000 yen (no tax)
Hakushu 18 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hibiki 17 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 12,500 yen (no tax)
Hibiki 17 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 40,000 Yen
Hibiki 30 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 500,000 Yen
Even other country's whisky is much cheaper outside Narita.
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 20,000 Yen
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Japanese Super Market) = 12,900 Yen.
Yamazaki 18 (purchased at Bic Camera) = 24,000 Yen (no tax)
Yamazaki 18 Travel edition(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hakushu 18 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 22,000 yen (no tax)
Hakushu 18 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hibiki 17 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 12,500 yen (no tax)
Hibiki 17 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 40,000 Yen
Hibiki 30 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 500,000 Yen
Even other country's whisky is much cheaper outside Narita.
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 20,000 Yen
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Japanese Super Market) = 12,900 Yen.
Aug 12, 2015, 6:14 am
#161
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Left
Programs: FT
Posts: 7,285
Was in Narita today (Terminal 1) heading home to the US. Picked up a lot of Japan whisky while in Japan (including a Yamazaki 18 & Yamazaki Limited Edition 2015, Hibiki 17, plus other brands, Ichiro's Malt, Mars, White Oak), in department stores, liquor shops and Bic Camera. Supplies are decent for the 12 year versions, but 18 years are limited throughout Japan, but if you're persistent or lucky, you may come a store that gets a few in on the day you visit. But Narita is a major no-no if you want to get good whisky at reasonable prices. They've got 3 of the popular aged Suntory Whiskys single malts Yamazaki 18, Hakushu 18 and the blended Hibiki 17 & 30 all the "Travel Editions", in stock. The only difference between the travel editions and the regular aged editions, is the fancier bottle, with etching and box (wooden, as opposed to cardboard). It's still the same exact aged whisky. The price difference is, however, significant.
Yamazaki 18 (purchased at Bic Camera) = 24,000 Yen (no tax)
Yamazaki 18 Travel edition(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hakushu 18 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 22,000 yen (no tax)
Hakushu 18 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hibiki 17 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 12,500 yen (no tax)
Hibiki 17 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 40,000 Yen
Hibiki 30 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 500,000 Yen
Even other country's whisky is much cheaper outside Narita.
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 20,000 Yen
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Japanese Super Market) = 12,900 Yen.
Yamazaki 18 (purchased at Bic Camera) = 24,000 Yen (no tax)
Yamazaki 18 Travel edition(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hakushu 18 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 22,000 yen (no tax)
Hakushu 18 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 50,000 Yen
Hibiki 17 (purchased at Mitsukoshi) = 12,500 yen (no tax)
Hibiki 17 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 40,000 Yen
Hibiki 30 Travel edition (at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 500,000 Yen
Even other country's whisky is much cheaper outside Narita.
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Narita Airport Duty Free) = 20,000 Yen
Johnny Walker Blue 750 ml(at Japanese Super Market) = 12,900 Yen.
Aug 12, 2015, 8:15 pm
#162
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 449
Good luck.
Aug 13, 2015, 2:55 pm
#164
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: HNL & SFO
Programs: UA MM/Gold
Posts: 292
Aug 15, 2015, 12:48 pm
#165
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,129
Picked up a Hibiki Harmony yesterday. Glad I have some 12 and 17 already, given the move to NAS... I do wonder how it will compare to say, the 12.