Last week, a threshold was crossed that should make whiskey enthusiasts everywhere quiver with dread, especially if they are world whisk(e)y enthusiasts. At Bonhams Whisky Sale in Hong Kong, a city already noted as a buzzing whisky auction marketplace, a bottle of Yamazaki 50 Year Old sold for a staggering $343,318 (HK$2,695,000). The bottle became the most expensive in Japanese ...

By Kurt Maitland Japanese whisky has been one of the hottest whisky categories around in recent years, with the awards and press to prove it. As a result, Japanese whiskies have become increasingly scarce and expensive, both at home and abroad. The recent news of shortages and the removal of several core releases from established line-ups has prompted many questions ...

By Richard Thomas Although the hot summer weather might not be ideal in terms of sipping on a fine whisk(e)y, that does not translate into it being a slow season for new whiskey releases. This summer is no exception, but is instead exceptional. A clutch of new, noteworthy bourbons are in the pipeline, as well as other American Whiskeys, Scotch ...

First introduced in Japan in 1986, Nikka From The Barrel has developed a cult-like status in the world of Japanese whisky – often the most coveted expression to bring back from its homeland. Today, Nikka Japanese Whisky and U.S. importer Hotaling & Co. announce the arrival of Nikka From The Barrel in the U.S. The ultimate expression of Nikka’s skillful ...

By Richard Thomas Japanese Whisky has been a victim of its own success. Long the best kept secret in world whisky, when the big duo of Japanese producers, Suntory and Nikka, decided to break out, they soon found themselves bedecked with awards and acclaim. Shortly thereafter, they were also overextended, with demand far outstripping and unsupported by the aged stock ...