Global award, TV drama boost Japanese whisky's golden touch

Tokyo

WHISKY demand is rocketing in Japan, with producers scrambling to increase production as a period drama about the dram has the country hooked and after a homegrown single malt scooped the honours in a world taste test.

Sales have soared since national broadcaster NHK began airing a daily dose of Massan, the tale of a Japanese entrepreneur and his Scottish wife who are credited with establishing Japan's first whisky distillery.