With the demand for Japanese whisky far outpacing provide lately, costs for the covetable spirit have spiked accordingly. However that doesn’t imply discovering fascinating bottles at an reasonably priced worth level is an inconceivable activity—particularly should you look past the strictest definition of “Japanese whisky.”

Because the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Affiliation launched new labeling requirements in 2021 (with manufacturers required to come back as much as code by 2024), shopping for a product labeled “Japanese whisky” is a assure that the liquid inside has been produced—from fermentation to bottling—in Japan from malted (and different cereal) grains. It additionally signifies that numerous merchandise from acclaimed Japanese manufacturers, together with Nikka and Suntory, fall outdoors of this definition and is perhaps labeled as a substitute as “world whisky,” “blended whisky” or just a “product of Japan.” The brand new guidelines convey novel transparency to what was as soon as a convoluted class, however it’s not a knock in opposition to bottlings that fall outdoors of these parameters. 

Equally, the rise of non–age assertion (NAS) bottlings from Japanese distillers—a direct results of rising demand—shouldn’t be construed as a unfavorable. In contrast to different world whiskies, which have at occasions seen a correlation between excessive demand and a dip in high quality to satisfy that demand, Japanese distilleries are approaching NAS whiskies as a novel alternative to create one thing pretty much as good as, if not higher than, their age assertion counterparts.

To search out one of the best examples of reasonably priced Japanese whisky (or world blends from Japanese distilleries), we tasted greater than a dozen bottles to seek out 5 standouts for lower than $75. 

Editor’s observe: As a result of costs range by market, sure bottles listed under might retail for barely above $75.