cdizzle11

was at KIX terminal 2 last week and spotted Hibiki 21, yamazaki 18 and hakushu 18 each for 50000

jpdx

Just completed a ~2 week stay in Japan. The Whiskey situation has become more dire if anything. You can walk around all day without seeing a single reasonably priced bottle with age statement.

Duty free and major department stores have some stock, but outrageously priced. As mentioned above, 50k is the going rate for Yama/Hak 18 or Hibiki 21.

Donkis have been pretty dry compared to my March/April trip. Donkis, of course, fall into three categories: The neighborhood Donki, which has nothing with age statement and probably didn't when the stuff was plentiful; the clusterf* Donki (identifiable by a line around the building of visitors from certain neighboring countries who are waiting to have their duty free forms processed) where you run the risk of being trampled if a shipment of Harmony or bottom shelf stuff comes in; and the slightly-more-upscale Donki (in fairly affluent locations, perhaps frequented by expats, but not on the tourist circuit) -- the latter is the only worth visiting.

BIC Camera has some really strong locations -- there was nothing good in Tokyo and Sapporo, but the Namba store again shone, with the following in stock:

Kurayoshi 33 -- 148k
Kurayoshi 25 -- 49800
Kurayoshi 18 -- 12k
Kurayoshi 12 -- 6980
Kurayoshi 8 -- 7480
Nikka 12 -- 5580
Hakushu 18 -- 24800
Hibiki and Yamazaki minis -- 780

Of course, one finds the best deals when not looking -- I stumbled upon a sizeable stock of Yamazaki 12 in some random non-chain convenience store in Hakdodate, priced at 8400.

Another wild card are the consignment/re-sellers that can be found in touristy and less savory areas. I stumbled upon one in Susukino that had Hakushu 18 for 25k -- the bottles looked ok, but of course one never knows.

Jigen666

Wow?! Now Kurayoshi is releasing a 25 and 33 year? Wonder what old cheap no-name scotch they bought in Scotland to bottle that overpriced sucker?

The only bigger fools are the ones who buy it.

jpdx

I was very surprised to see these -- had never heard of them. However, I do give the store credit for finding stock -- carrying Hak 18 and Nikka 12 plus these, umm, unusual ones shows that they make an effort. Much better than the dozens of stores that simply throw their hands in the air and say, sorry, can't get anything.

I didn't buy anything on this trip, and indeed think that for those of us residing in the US, that market holds much better prices (and more hope for finding product) than Japan.

invalyd

The Nikka 12 is quite widely available from what I recall. Liquores Hasegawa, Yamaya, etc all carry it for ~6000 yen. It's worth picking up because it's not available in the US.

MegatopLover

What is the current situation at Narita Duty Free? One store in particular in Terminal 1 near Satellite 3 had quite a decent stock at reasonable prices. No more?

Will be flying out early September and looking to bring some home as a gift.

SeeingtheWorldfromIndy

I am in Hakodate now and looking for something to bring back. Do you happen to remember the name of the convenience store or roughly where it is located?

Thanks!

invalyd

If you're lucky you'll find Hakushu 18, Yamazaki 18 or Hibiki 21 for 50,000 yen. The reasonable prices are long gone.

jerry a. laska

See this post a few above yours:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28651235-post617.html

jashsu

Flew out of HND half a week ago. Didn't see any Hibiki or Yamazaki but didn't look particularly hard either, since Japan wasn't the last leg of my trip and I prefer not to check luggage. Ended up with some Kavalan from Taiwan.

esquesk

Nikka 12 seems pretty available in Shinjuku as well. Liquor Mountain had it for ~5K yen, BIC for 6K.

In terms of age stated, didn't find much else in Shinjuku outside of a tiny little wine store on 3 stores down from Liquor Mountain.

Picked up Hibiki 17 for 18K and a few Hibiki 17 mini's for 1.3K a pop.

On the shelf were some age stated bottles;

Hibiki 21 - ~42K
Hakushu 12 - ~12K
Yamazaki 12 - ~12K
Yamazaki 25 - ~120K - was tempted by this one but passed since I didn't have the cash on hand and am now on a train to Kyoto... Really regretting it now.

invalyd

Where did you find the Hibiki 17? Hoping to snag a bottle when I'm there next month

chongl

Liquors Hasegawa has 17 for that price

Irish lad

Not today it doesn't! Just been in and they are sold out. Agree that finding the good whiskies in Japan is tough! Now regret not buying more of the 50ml Hibiki 17 year old small bottles in Hiroshima...

jpdx

If you're buying for your own consumption, the 50ml bottles are the way to go. Much more widely available and often cheaper. They are generally available at loft stores (including the one in Shibuya), even though the prices there are higher (>800y vs ~750 at BIC and non chain stores).