Yes, a lot of retailers stock up on Japanese whisky which is very popular here -- though for me the prices don't justify buying them as you can get a lot better value for buying other stuff.

I saw Yamazaki 12 for 160 at the asakusa DQ. They also had the hakushu 12 for 238 and hibiki 21 for 400.

The Yamazaki 12 and Hibiki 21 were gone when I went an hour ago. Picked up a bottle of 2017 LE, limit one per person.

160k yen for Yamazaki 12? These prices are getting out of hand. Yamazaki 12 isn't even that good, I picked up a bottle 4-5 years ago at a BevMo for around $50 and didn't even finish it.

OP probably means $160 USD. Your point about prices getting out of hand still stands.

Yes. When major liquor monopolies source yamzaki 12 for sub US100, prices in Japan are for desparite people or local or tourist suckers. Why not buy some royal salute for a song.

Yes, I am better off buying these bottles when I'm in Sweden instead of in Japan now.

On that note -- are there any good deals at all to be found in Japan at this stage? Any specific labels?

Remember that Japanese people generally buy into the trend and accepting that things cost more in Japan because of xyz. I'm really curious to know if prices are because of domestic demand going way up after the Massan drama. Suddenly, a few news outlets highlights the popularity of Japanese Whisky abroad ( which had been increasing, but only slowly ) and then popularity of Whisky in Japan skyrockets among the Japanese locals. In addition, you have a flux of Chinese tourists who will buy something that's made in Japan ( or not made in China ) because there is a higher trust factor built in, as well as for bragging rights that they have some luxury good hard to find in China.

Typically, Whisky was either an old man's drink in Japan or only for people who developed a palate for it. Once you convince Japanese people that Japanese Whisky is best! then they'll buy it in droves and they'll pay top dollar for it. I wouldn't be surprised to see Whisky imports to Japan increase considerably and prices to go up as Japan sucks up international Whisky stocks.

None of my Japanese colleagues or friends would pay these prices for Yamazaki/Hibiki/Nikka aged whiskys. They are perfectly happy drinking highballs and non-aged Japanese whisky or better yet, focus on the vast array of scotch single malts and american bourbons available.

Only my overseas friends still hunt for the Suntory/Nikka aged stuff and seldom find anything at a reasonable price anymore. Just yesterday, saw Yamazaki 25, 12 and LE at Donki Roppongi. The Yama 25 was probably the best deal!https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...71e2dd270e.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6854bf8c97.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e0121ba2e7.jpghttps://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ba68548d43.jpg

Anyone know where I can find the 50ml bottles anymore? More for souvenir reasons

UPDATE: Two days later and went back to Donki Roppongi with different visitors and the Yama 25 and all the 12's are gone. Only two bottles of the LE left. Crazy! Did someone here jump on it? They still have some Hakushu 12 left though.

What's crazy is the terrible price for Yamazaki 12 still sells out

Nobody drinks it any more. It's too popular.

Yes, that is remarkable that you could buy Yamazaki 12 at systembolaget of all places for less. it is rather astonishing really.

It reminds me of my sister in law asking us to pick up a stroller off of Amazon.com (USA) to ship back to Hong Kong. The stroller was made in China, but apparently still hundreds of dollars more expensive to purchase in Hong Kong than the USA.