Bottling The Spirit Of Japan

AGE GENERALLY MATTERS when it comes to a bottle of whisky but that hasn't stopped the Japanese from rising to become a dominant force in the spirits industry in less than a century, and giving the Scottish and Irish - who have been distilling it since the 15th and 12th century respectively - a run for their money.

The global thirst for whisky produced in the Land of the Rising Sun can be traced back to around the turn of the new millennium when it started winning international prizes.

Things reached fever pitch when supply couldn't keep up with demand and the hype sent prices of popular Japanese premium brands such as Yamazaki and Hibiki skyrocketing all over the world.