Japan claims whisky crown

Japan claims whisky crown

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Nestled at the foot of wooded hills near the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, the Yamazaki whisky distillery feels a long way from the northerly glens of Scotch's spiritual home.

But despite its unlikely birthplace, Yamazaki's Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 trumped more than a thousand challengers to be named the world's best whisky by leading critic Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible 2015.

. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter
Senior General Manager of Suntory Holdings' Yamazaki Distillery Takahisa Fujii knocks on whisky casks to check its levels.

The first Japanese whisky to claim the crown owes its success to adroit exploitation of climate and water, special casks and a keen awareness of the Japanese palate, the company says.

In Yamazaki's cavernous cellar, 2,000 barrels emit a heady scent as the whiskies mature, the casks breathing as the seasons change to produce a flavour praised as "near indescribable genius" by Murray.

The distillery's senior general manager Takahisa Fujii says the whisky's deep flavour and spicy aroma are carefully crafted according to changing customer tastes. And, he admits, that local climate lends a helping hand.

"Compared to other countries the temperature is also a bit higher, so the maturations become much more influenced by the casks so we have to make sure to maintain the quality of the barrels,” he said.

. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

The popularity of whisky in Japan has ebbed and flowed since Masataka Taketsuru, the son of a sake brewer, returned from Scotland in 1918, helping to establish the country's first distillery at Yamazaki five years later.

Above, 12-year-old whisky matures in an oak cask, fitted with a glass front and back for display purposes at the distillery.

As the good times rolled in Japan's 1980s bubble-era, Scotch mixed with water became an indispensable part of business culture.

51-year-old whisky drinker Kiyoshi Nakano says he began drinking whisky 10 years ago and is now planning to open his own whisky bar. "I experienced the flavour of Japanese whisky and just fell in love with it,” Nakano said.

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Slideshow

The Yamazaki Distillery stands on a hillside.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

The Yamazaki Distillery stands on a hillside.

A bamboo forest is pictured behind the distillery.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A bamboo forest is pictured behind the distillery.

A monument to distillery founder Shinjiro Torii and his son, Keizo Saji, its second generation master blender, stands in the compound of the distillery.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A monument to distillery founder Shinjiro Torii and his son, Keizo Saji, its second generation master blender, stands in the compound of the distillery.

A man sweeps leaves below a historic spirit still at the distillery.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A man sweeps leaves below a historic spirit still at the distillery.

A worker takes a sample from a spirit still.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A worker takes a sample from a spirit still.

Whisky casks are stored the distillery.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Whisky casks are stored the distillery.

Workers check on casks.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Workers check on casks.

Suntory's Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo samples whisky during a presentation.
. TOKYO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Suntory's Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo samples whisky during a presentation.

Two samples of whisky are seen in the Yamazaki Distillery’s whisky library.
. SHIMAMOTO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Two samples of whisky are seen in the Yamazaki Distillery’s whisky library.

A bartender pours Yamazaki whisky at the Hibiya whisky bar in Tokyo’s Ginza district.
. TOKYO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A bartender pours Yamazaki whisky at the Hibiya whisky bar in Tokyo’s Ginza district.

A woman leaves the Hibiya whisky bar.
. TOKYO, Japan. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A woman leaves the Hibiya whisky bar.