Stanford GSB

Stanford GSB

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

The booming of Japanese Whisky

Japan always comes with its own class, no matter food or spirits. For whisky, they used to have a very humble beginning. Japanese whisky production generally follows the methods originally developed in Scotland. However, do not be misled into thinking that Japanese whisky is a mere impostor. There are several differences, which set apart Japanese whisky into a class of its own. As with many other foreign-born creations, Japan has in a way, taken a blueprint and added its own flair to create a unique product that is commendable in its own right. In some ways, the East-West connection has come full circle, as Scottish producers have adopted certain techniques developed by Japanese distilleries. There are a number of ways in which Japanese whisky production veers from its traditional Scottish roots. Variations in ingredients, equipment, and method produce whisky that, while bearing a resemblance to its predecessors, is distinct spirit characteristic of Japan.

Prepare to change the way you think about whisky when you sip the Yamazaki single malt on the rock in an exclusive & decent Japanese whisky bar. The pursuit of perfection is important in Japanese culture. It can take eight long years to become a sushi chef. It takes at least three to master the tea ceremony. If you want to drink whisky highballs the Japanese way, what you really need is the right-size bubbles in the right kind of soda water, and it’s useful to have an ice-making machine that freezes the water extra slowly to produce huge, translucent blocks of ice as clear as a pond in a Zen garden. 

Besides, they also seemed to create the brand new image for whisky, unlike scotch’s masculine, sophisticated and boldness; Japanese whiskies are more delicate, pure and fresh, feeling like exploring a crystal world of subtle emotions, this distinctiveness shows especially in their commercials. Take an example of Yamazaki’s single malt ad:

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing, Jack. It's interesting, but as someone who doesn't drink whiskey I couldn't tell the difference between the flavors during our whiskey tasting. Part of me wonders whether branding is more important in whiskey since the alcohol content is much higher and the likelihood that one can taste the difference in the flavor palate may be lower due to this fact. Of course, since I don't drink whiskey, this might be the reason I can't tell the difference. But as a non-whiskey drinker, I could see that the marketing of Japanese whiskey would affect my attraction to it, in the same way that new wine drinkers are affected by story in a way that most of us probably aren't due to our knowledge and familiarity with the drink.

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