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)
Aug 27, 2017, 1:53 am
#631
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG Plat, UA GS
Posts: 238
There were 6 bottles left as of today!
Sep 22, 2017, 5:31 am
#632
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago, IL., U.S.A.
Programs: Global Entry · WN, UA, AS, DL, NH; IHG, Wyndham, Hilton, Best Value Inn, Marriott, Starwood, Ramada
Posts: 510
Something inside your vest?
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.
{edit}
Donkis have been pretty dry compared to my March/April trip. Donkis, of course, fall into three categories:
{more edit}
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 one worth visiting.
{edit}
Donkis have been pretty dry compared to my March/April trip. Donkis, of course, fall into three categories:
{more edit}
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 one worth visiting.
I'll toss out the one in Naka-Meguro, where I shopped one day looking for JAVs. I didn't find any of those. But it seemed to have a lot of spirits. But I'm not one to buy rare bottles of spirits. I would want to drink it, which is seemingly what one does not do in this marketplace.
Sep 30, 2017, 4:45 pm
#633
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 449
I was at a DonKi last week in Japan. It had a "Premuim Collectible" section for liquors, including Hibiki 17, 21, and Yama 18. The bad news is it was selling them for over-inflated after market prices. And these are not the Duty Free editions.
Hibiki 17 - 19,800 Yen
Hibiki 21 - 39,800 Yen
Yama 18 - 49,800 Yen
It's sad, but Donki went from being a good source of higher end Japanese whisky at SRP prices (also Tax Free) to over-inflated after-market prices.
Went to Mitsukoshi in the Ginza last week and found a bottle of Ichiro's Malt 5yr Port Pipe Cask Strength for 27,000 Yen (25,000 Tax free), and picked that up. Went back the next day to pick up a second bottle and they were all gone. It was a Isetan-Mitsukoshi only release. Perhaps they might still have it at other Mitsukoshi/Isetan stores.
Hibiki 17 - 19,800 Yen
Hibiki 21 - 39,800 Yen
Yama 18 - 49,800 Yen
It's sad, but Donki went from being a good source of higher end Japanese whisky at SRP prices (also Tax Free) to over-inflated after-market prices.
Went to Mitsukoshi in the Ginza last week and found a bottle of Ichiro's Malt 5yr Port Pipe Cask Strength for 27,000 Yen (25,000 Tax free), and picked that up. Went back the next day to pick up a second bottle and they were all gone. It was a Isetan-Mitsukoshi only release. Perhaps they might still have it at other Mitsukoshi/Isetan stores.
Oct 6, 2017, 3:13 am
#634
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: California
Posts: 8
Found some bottles in Osaka
Hi,
Whenever I get a chance to go to Japan, I always hunt for any bottles I can find that are typically harder to find (usually age statement bottles). Across my three separate trips over the last 3 years, I've found it very difficult to find much across Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto (the 3 places I generally visit).
I've come across a hibiki 17 a few times but usually 20k price range the first two years (2015, 2016) but 2017 was tough luck for me until today I found a store that doesn't seem to populate on Google maps. It's a relatively large store and I saw a taketsuru 17 and 21, as well as a hibiki 17 (priced approx 16k, 23k, and 15k respectively). I'm shocked to have come across these bottles and at not ridiculouslu over inflated prices...it almost makes me wonder if there have ever been cases of fake bottles or label changed bottles? I'm probably being paranoid but wanted to see if people here with more experience had any input! Thanks!
Whenever I get a chance to go to Japan, I always hunt for any bottles I can find that are typically harder to find (usually age statement bottles). Across my three separate trips over the last 3 years, I've found it very difficult to find much across Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto (the 3 places I generally visit).
I've come across a hibiki 17 a few times but usually 20k price range the first two years (2015, 2016) but 2017 was tough luck for me until today I found a store that doesn't seem to populate on Google maps. It's a relatively large store and I saw a taketsuru 17 and 21, as well as a hibiki 17 (priced approx 16k, 23k, and 15k respectively). I'm shocked to have come across these bottles and at not ridiculouslu over inflated prices...it almost makes me wonder if there have ever been cases of fake bottles or label changed bottles? I'm probably being paranoid but wanted to see if people here with more experience had any input! Thanks!
Oct 6, 2017, 1:41 pm
#635
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
any chance you could share the location? going to be in japan next week.
Oct 7, 2017, 12:46 am
#637
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: TYO
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,744
kl wines is only 5 blocks down from costco and will have a much wider selection at similar prices.
Oct 9, 2017, 10:34 am
#640
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: California
Posts: 8
And, of course, I'll share as accurately as I can.
The name is Liquor Express in Osaka, about 10-15 minutes walk South of Osaka Station. It's about 2 or 3 stores down from another Liquor store called Sakaeya (see attached screenshots for map/address on google maps). It didn't show up on street view and a google and yelp search yielded no results for me. I stumbled onto it on the way to a Yamaya nearby (thank God I found it).
I've also attached some images of the selection of Japanese Whisky they had on the day I went. Pretty solid selection, probably the best I've seen in the last 3 years. Hope this helps and you guys can find it! The one picture of the building corner with "MY" on it is the corner store right next to Liquor Express coming from the North end of the street (just added for reference).
Oct 11, 2017, 10:17 am
#642
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 278
Wow, those prices are insane now... I guess I was super lucky earlier this year I picked up two bottles of Hibiki 17 for Y10,000 ea and a bottle of Yamazaki 18 for Y25,000 at Aeon mall. I guess the prices are about doubled at this moment... A aged Japanese whisky is like liquid gold now....
Oct 12, 2017, 6:19 am
#643
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 2
For anyone in and around Roppongi make your way to Liquior Mountain if you are after some nice aged wisky. After searching for Hibiki 17 for the last 5 days, enetered at least 25 shops, I was finally able to score a couple bottles for 17k inc tax. They had some fine aged whisky’s inc a couple bottles of 30yr Hibiki for 298k + tax
Sorry can’t upload picture of their range as I have less then 5 post
Sorry can’t upload picture of their range as I have less then 5 post
Last edited by Jakey_boy; Oct 12, 2017 at 6:23 am Reason: Inc picture
Oct 12, 2017, 6:46 am
#644
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Kobe/Osaka
Programs: Delta
Posts: 1,587
For anyone in and around Roppongi make your way to Liquior Mountain if you are after some nice aged wisky. After searching for Hibiki 17 for the last 5 days, enetered at least 25 shops, I was finally able to score a couple bottles for 17k inc tax. They had some fine aged whisky’s inc a couple bottles of 30yr Hibiki for 298k + tax
Sorry can’t upload picture of their range as I have less then 5 post
Sorry can’t upload picture of their range as I have less then 5 post
Oct 12, 2017, 8:57 am
#645
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940