Are the Japanese beating the Scots at their own game?

Welcome! 👋

It’s official.  

Japanese whisky has been declared better than Scotch. 

Last month, at a tasting event, 'Judgement of Glasgow,' a panel of industry experts blind-tasted five examples of whisky from both countries.  

In a result that likely left Scots horrified, Japan claimed victory, winning three out of five rounds.  

And it's not the first time that Scotland has been shunned by Japan in the whisky stakes. 

Japan beat Scotland once again in 2014 when Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was branded “best in the world” by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. 

Despite the rising competition, Scotch whisky remains strong, with exports hitting £5.3 billion in 2023. 

However, global demand for Japanese whisky is growing at an impressive rate of 17% a year, with the market expected to double by the 2030s. 

You may remember a few months back, we told you about a Japanese whisky brand making waves in the market right now – Karuizawa. 

This whisky has been causing quite the frenzy in the office, with my whole team frantically trying to source more bottles of the stuff. 

As the Karuizawa distillery ceased operations in 2000, its reputation has skyrocketed, with bottles now fetching astronomical prices at auction.  

In early 2017, the largest collection of Karuizawa whisky ever auctioned sold for just under £800,000. 

The current record for a single bottle of Karuizawa at auction is £363,000 for a Karuizawa 1960 52-Year-Old Zodiac Rat, sold at Sotheby’s in 2020. 

These whiskies are now legendary. With no more to be made, their rarity and value continue to soar. 

But caution is needed – Karuizawa's fame has led to a surge in counterfeit bottles on the global market. 

Sourcing your bottles through an expert is a must! 

We managed to get our hands on a rare bottle from the Karuizawa Noh series – the 1980 – 32 Year Old – Cask #7614, which was instantly claimed by one of our clients.  

The moment these become available, they’re snapped up because collectors know their value will only increase over time.  

The longer you hold onto one, the greater its appeal at auction, which means you’ll always have an exit strategy.  

If you’d like us to keep you in mind for when we next get our hands on one, please get in touch.  

These opportunities are rare and highly sought after, so act quickly. 

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We look forward to speaking with you soon.

As always, cheers!

Michael Doerr

Founder & CEO, Oeno Group