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.
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Consolidated "Buy Whiskey in Japan" thread (was: Haneda/Narita Duty Free Whiskey)
Apr 17, 2018, 9:23 pm
#766
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Most products here - including those made across the border in Shenzhen - seem to be destined for EU/US markets and then get imported back to Hong Kong. I tend to buy most things online from Europe or the US these days. Particularly since e-commerce is all but non-existent in backwards HK...
Apr 18, 2018, 2:42 am
#767
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TYO
Programs: UA MM *G, NH Plat/SFC, HH Diamond, GE
Posts: 238
Friend got lucky and bought a bottle of Yamazaki 18 for 27,000 yen from Matsuya Ginza department store yesterday. They said they get about one case (6 bottles) every month or two, but don't when and don't hold for customers. They sold all six bottles in less than an hour... better to be lucky than good!
Apr 19, 2018, 10:36 am
#768
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: dont care anymore
Posts: 112
Friend got lucky and bought a bottle of Yamazaki 18 for 27,000 yen from Matsuya Ginza department store yesterday. They said they get about one case (6 bottles) every month or two, but don't when and don't hold for customers. They sold all six bottles in less than an hour... better to be lucky than good!
Apr 20, 2018, 11:57 am
#769
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: AA, Hyatt
Posts: 108
So if the current consensus is don't buy bottles of Japanese Whiskey in Japan, are there top Japanese whiskey bars to recommend? Seems like at the very least a trip to Japan should include some Japanese whiskey even if it is just a drink at a bar.
Apr 20, 2018, 12:39 pm
#770
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: AC
Posts: 106
I was planning to go to Tokyo Whisky Library but didn't get a chance. Nikka has a bar in the basement of their building that has a pretty extensive Nikka collection (naturally). I also found Hibiki 17 and 21 at a really reasonable price at the Ryokan I stayed at in Hakone and took the chance to have my first glass of Hibiki 21, which was absolutely amazing.
Apr 21, 2018, 4:07 am
#771
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AA Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 2,850
Makers Mark bourbon - Japan edition?
I'm currently in Japan and wanting to bring back a Japanese version of Makers Mark. Does the Makers Mark available at Haneda have Japanese writing on the back? If not I’ll purchase a bottle here and put in checked luggage.
I’d really like to find a bottle with a black label that they sold for a limited time. Anyone know where to find in Kyoto or Tokyo?
I’d really like to find a bottle with a black label that they sold for a limited time. Anyone know where to find in Kyoto or Tokyo?
Apr 27, 2018, 12:45 am
#772
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I'm back from my trip and ended up finding one bottle of Yamakazi 12 at Liquor Mountain (none at BIC or Don Quijote) for Y14,400 before the tax-back - much improved over the small store in Shibuya that wanted Y19,500 and didn't do tax-back! I also bought a non-vintage Nikka Miyagikyo for Y3,800.
At the airport, like others are reporting, everything with an age was sold out. I wonder how many times a day shoppers try to buy the Yamakazi 18 in the display case (which might not even be real)!
At the airport, like others are reporting, everything with an age was sold out. I wonder how many times a day shoppers try to buy the Yamakazi 18 in the display case (which might not even be real)!
May 2, 2018, 7:53 pm
#773
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: 67,145
I'm partial to Shot Bar Zoetrope in Shinjuku. Every time I walk down to the wine cellar at home, I see a few photos I took of rounds of whisky I had at Zoetrope, and long to go back.
May 8, 2018, 2:43 pm
#774
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 278
Of all places I have looked in Japan, I finally scored on my favorite Japanese whisky, the Yamazaki 18, in the US this weekend for $249 a bottle! Which is actually cheaper than in Japan if you find it! Got two bottles. Supper happy!! Japan is really not a place to hunt for those highly sought after (i.e. Yamazaki 12,/18, Hakushu 12/18) bottles anymore... Hibiki 17/21 might be the only ones worth hunting if you can get it close to MSRP.
May 9, 2018, 12:25 am
#775
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 1
Of all places I have looked in Japan, I finally scored on my favorite Japanese whisky, the Yamazaki 18, in the US this weekend for $249 a bottle! Which is actually cheaper than in Japan if you find it! Got two bottles. Supper happy!! Japan is really not a place to hunt for those highly sought after (i.e. Yamazaki 12,/18, Hakushu 12/18) bottles anymore... Hibiki 17/21 might be the only ones worth hunting if you can get it close to MSRP.
May 9, 2018, 2:53 pm
#776
Moderator, All Nippon Airways and Japan
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TYO
Programs: NH SFC (*G), JL JGP (OWE), AS MVP, WOH E, IHG SE
Posts: 3,908
Please keep this thread on topic — that is, where to find Japanese whiskey in Japan.
Regards,
armagebedar
Japan forum moderator
Regards,
armagebedar
Japan forum moderator
May 14, 2018, 12:20 am
#777
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 2
Haneda duty free from two trips in past two months
On my first trip, I watched them stock 5 Taketsuru 25 year priced at 69,700 (I didn't buy it but understand this bottle can be very hard to find). I found it funny because the guys stocking the shelf thought the price was wrong since it was so expensive...they went and checked with some one else to confirm the price. Also found one Hibiki 21 for 50000 which I bought (I know it's a rip-off but haven't been able to find the 21....)
At Precce market in midtown Tokyo, they had NAS Miyagikyo and Yoichi for 3980 which is much cheaper than anywhere I see in the states
At Precce market in midtown Tokyo, they had NAS Miyagikyo and Yoichi for 3980 which is much cheaper than anywhere I see in the states
May 14, 2018, 7:22 pm
#778
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
Sad news today as Suntory officially announces they will discontinue Hibiki 17 as of September. Better stock up soon.
Last trip in December I had the choice between a 21 and 17, opted for the 21, wish I picked them both up now...