Japanese whiskey was first produced as a highly conscious attempt to recreate the famous style of the Scotch whiskey. Such pioneers as Takesuru thoroughly studied the distilling process of Scotch whiskey and did so superbly in an effort to recreate that particular process in Japan.
The renowned location of Yoichi in the city of Hokkaido was chosen, especially for its climate and terrain, which in a number of ways were reminiscent of Scotland.
One particular facet of the Japanese whiskey style comes from the unique way blended whiskey is made and the vastly differing industry nature in Japan. In spite of the fresh rise of consumer interest in malt whiskey, the majority of whiskey sold globally is still blended. One of the major driving forces behind the variety of malts produced by Scottish distilleries is the strict requirements of blended whiskey.
In the West, each distillery will typically concentrate on a particular style, and different blenders will then choose from this range of elements to make their product. Although sometimes a brand of blended whiskey might be owned and run by a company which also controls one or two distilleries, it is rather common for whiskey trading to take place among such various companies.
The many different components of a blend might involve malt whiskey from a plethora of distilleries and conceivably each of these could be owned and run by a different company.
However, a different model is adopted in Japan, generally speaking. Here, both the brands of blended whiskey and the distilleries themselves are owned by the whiskey companies. It is not common for these companies to do business with their competitors.
In fact, they’re very reluctant to do so. As a result, a blended whiskey sold in Japan will typically consist of malt whiskey from distilleries owned and run by that very same company.
The innovation and diversity found in Japanese distilleries could be a major contributing factor to their very recent high profile and rapturous acclaim in the global whiskey arena. Consumption of whiskey in Japan also has quite unique characteristics and lends its whiskey’s sheer distinctiveness.