The Nihon Spirits Guide
Honest, English-language guides to Japanese sake and whisky — written in Japan by someone who actually drinks the stuff.
Sake Guides
Whisky Guides
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Quick answer: buy Sipsmith London Dry Gin if you want a classic, juniper-led gin for martinis, negronis, and a traditional…
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Quick answer: buy Nikka From the Barrel if you want the most flavor per pound: a dense, 51.4% ABV blend…
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Quick answer: buy Yoichi if you want smoke you can actually taste: it’s the peated, briny, coastal single malt from…
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Quick answer: buy Hibiki Japanese Harmony if you want a smooth, floral, easy-sipping Japanese whisky at roughly half the price.…
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Quick answer: Hibiki Japanese Harmony ($80–90 MSRP, street $90–130) and Macallan 12 Double Cask ($65–80) sit close enough in price…
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Quick answer: there’s no single “best” shochu, because the category splits into distinct base ingredients that taste nothing alike —…
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Palate Project is a partner who may pay us when you buy through the links in this article. This doesn’t…
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Palate Project is a partner who may pay us when you buy through the links in this article. This doesn’t…
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Written by a sake and whisky drinker in Japan
This site is written by Taku S., a Japan-based writer who has spent years actually drinking the sake and whisky covered here. The goal is simple: honest picks for people outside Japan who want to know what’s actually worth buying, not just what’s trending.
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