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Consolidated "Buy Whiskey in Japan" thread (was: Haneda/Narita Duty Free Whiskey)

Old Oct 18, 2019, 5:22 pm
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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)

Old Feb 1, 2019, 10:37 am
  #1141  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 278
Originally Posted by invalyd
Not entirely correct. According to Nikka, Coffey stills are only being suspended in Japan market. They will continue to be sold in the USA.
Good thing I ordered 5 bottles of Nikka 12 this trip. I am planning on ordering more. I really like this blend. It's way better than Hibiki Harmony and an only age statement bottle that wouldn't break your bank!
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Old Feb 1, 2019, 11:27 am
  #1142  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
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Originally Posted by james21_h
Good thing I ordered 5 bottles of Nikka 12 this trip. I am planning on ordering more. I really like this blend. It's way better than Hibiki Harmony and an only age statement bottle that wouldn't break your bank!
Agreed, it's a great regular drinker. My only complaint is the bottle and box is so big, it takes up a lot of space to stuff in my luggage
invalyd is offline  
Old Feb 2, 2019, 7:09 am
  #1143  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 1
Originally Posted by james21_h
Good thing I ordered 5 bottles of Nikka 12 this trip. I am planning on ordering more. I really like this blend. It's way better than Hibiki Harmony and an only age statement bottle that wouldn't break your bank!

Hi, just joined this forum. Any idea / advise if i order whisky from rakuten Japan to singapore, besides the delivery charge, do i need to pay GST and also alcohol tax before i collect the items? If need, how much? TIA
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 4:27 am
  #1144  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: MEL/YMML
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Originally Posted by james21_h
I kinda lucked out. I ordered those Hibiki 17 and Hibiki minis right before they announced the discontinuation and shipped them to my buddy's house and stored there. I paid around ~Y18000 for a full size and ~Y1000 for mini each back then. The Yamazaki NAS I found them at a local Lawson just 3 weeks ago in Japan for Y1200 each. Cleaned it up (4 total) and they never restocked it after that. I stopped by many convenient stores but never see Yamazaki or Hakushu NAS around after 2017,
I saw Hakushu NAS mini in FamilyMart in January this year. 5 bottles at the same time. It is in Kobe. Go figure.
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 4:29 am
  #1145  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
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Posts: 287
Originally Posted by james21_h
Good thing I ordered 5 bottles of Nikka 12 this trip. I am planning on ordering more. I really like this blend. It's way better than Hibiki Harmony and an only age statement bottle that wouldn't break your bank!
I actually think Hibiki Harmony is better. Depends on your personal taste.
antebellum is offline  
Old Feb 3, 2019, 6:33 pm
  #1146  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: CX DM, SingAir, Hyatt
Posts: 41
Narita empty

Monday morning flight out of Narita Term 2. Absolutely nothing available from higher end Hibiki, Yama or Hakushu. No sightings of the Chichibu travel retail left either. Tried every store.
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 8:24 pm
  #1147  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,809
Where are some places we can get the mini bottles of Hibiki in Osaka/Kyoto area?

Do they sell the mini bottles in NRT airport?

Thanks!
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 8:26 pm
  #1148  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 166


Limited release at Nihombashi at the weekend
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Old Feb 3, 2019, 8:55 pm
  #1149  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 278
Originally Posted by daizawaguy


Limited release at Nihombashi at the weekend
Very nice! Did you buy them all!? Good to see they are still selling them at the retail prices!
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 12:16 am
  #1150  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TYO
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Posts: 238
Originally Posted by invalyd
Agreed, it's a great regular drinker. My only complaint is the bottle and box is so big, it takes up a lot of space to stuff in my luggage
I've seen The Nikka 12 sold in a new, slimmer box, in some stores. I still like the bigger box for gifts.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 5:40 am
  #1151  
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 41
daizawaguy

Thanks for the heads up. Got 5 of the last seven Yamazaki minis, while the guy in back picked up the remaining two.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 6:14 am
  #1152  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 166
Talking

Originally Posted by PastisDetox
daizawaguy

Thanks for the heads up. Got 5 of the last seven Yamazaki minis, while the guy in back picked up the remaining two.
I popped in today, the top shelf they had used over the weekend was filled with other stuff, and only the Yamazaki`s left at lunch time - 10 or so. I grabbed 3, and you must have cleaned them out after me! No guessing who cleaned out the Hibiki 17`s...
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 6:19 am
  #1153  
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: CX DM, SingAir, Hyatt
Posts: 41
Originally Posted by HawaiiO
Where are some places we can get the mini bottles of Hibiki in Osaka/Kyoto area?

Do they sell the mini bottles in NRT airport?

Thanks!
No minis sold at Japan airports. Finding any Hibiki 17s in the wild is random and rare.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 6:38 am
  #1154  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 166
Originally Posted by 7473chad
No minis sold at Japan airports. Finding any Hibiki 17s in the wild is random and rare.
That's for sure - there is an article on Forbes which explains why the mini was priced cheaper than equivalent of 1/14th (50ml/700ml) - it was to encourage tasters. Takashimaya told me today they had the stock from two years ago, and finally decided to release it. Japanese department stores can only sell at retail, and cannot limit orders - so it was a bonanza at the weekend.

BTW, BIG is now out of Hibiki, and a walk through Ginza has the Hibiki Blenders Choice from 14,800 (Mountain) to 24,000 (forget, but think it was Sokuhai) - compared to the retail of 10,000 as seen at Hasegawa once in December and January.
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Old Feb 4, 2019, 7:20 pm
  #1155  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
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Hasegawa is now forcing customers to buy Miyagikyo NAS if they wish to purchase a NFTB (which is already a little overprixced) A shame they've resorted to sleezy tactics to move unwanted bottles. They also bumped the price of Nikka 12.

The owner told my buddy they won't be getting any more Blenders Choice, hopefully he's mistaken , not holding my breath.
invalyd is offline  

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