Fukuoka, Kyushu
While I'd occasionally allow myself a treat in a night bar like here with this Nikka Taketsuru 17 years (delicious !), I gave up on buying these whiskies even in duty-free shops
at the airport be cause
the prices have risen so much due to the influx of wealthy Chinese tourists eager to spend on Japanese prestige brands. But on the side of spirits there's a hidden side European tourists don't look into enough, it's the cheaper whisky range, often from unknown or lesser-known brands. You'll not find them in duty-free but rather in retail stores in the cities or even in supermarkets. You have a wide range to choose from and some of these bottles are surprisingly cheap, that's the ones I decided to try this time. I took some risks as I brought back 7 bottles in my checked bags (maximum for spirits is one liter), Airlines serving Japan often let you check two 23-kg bags which encourages shopping. I relied for my purchases mostly on two liquor stores in Fukuoka, I stumbled into their branches while crisscrossing the city by foot, these are Alliq and Yamaya. You can also find whiskies in the 24-hour supermarket chains Sunny and MaxValu Express as well as in the liquor department of Bic Camera.
From left to right :
The Nikka Tailored 43 % 700 ml 6600 Yen tax included or 44 €
Kirin Non-Chill Filtered 50 % 500 ml 1650 tax included or 11 €
Kirin Riku Pure & Mellow Land Discovery 50 % 500 ml 1650 tax included or 11 €
Kirin Fuji Single Grain Whiskey 45 % 700 ml 5500 Yen tax included or 37 €
Kizakura Whisky Sakura Chronos Blended Malt 47 % 700 ml, 5500 Yen tax included or 37 €
Kirin Fuji Single Blend 43 % 7010 ml, 5500 Yen tax included or 37 €
Suntory Whisky Toki 43 % 700 ml, 7150 Yen tax included or 48 €
Kurayoshi Distillery, The San-In Blended Whisky 40 % 700 ml, 1650 Yen tax included or 11 €
Yamazakura 963 Malt & Grain Fine Blended Whisky 46 % 700 ml, 2750 Yen tax included or 18 €.
From left to right :
Mars Maltage Cosmo (Hombo Shuzo) 43 % 700 ml, 4494 Yen tax included or 30€
Rokkosan Mizunara Peated Whisky 42 % 720 ml, 11550 Yen tax included or 78 €
Rokkosan Pure Malt Whisky Finish 59 % 500 ml 10450 Yen tax included or 70 €
Hachikuma Whisky 700 ml, 1032 Yen tax included or 7 €
Rokkosan Whisky 12 years old 720 ml 8250 Yen tax included or 55 €
Fuji-Sanroku Signature Blend Non-Chill Filtered 700 ml, 5133 Yen tax included or 35 €
Single Malt Nagahama, The First Batch 700 ml, 13200 Yen tax included or 89 €
From left to right :
Azabu Pure Malt 40 % 700 ml, 4180 Yen tax included or 28 €
Saburomaru Distillery, Junenmyo 7-Seven 46 % 700 ml, 4400 Yen tax included or 30 €
Fujigane Pure Malt Whisky 43 % 700 ml, 2750 Yen tax included or 18 €
Matsui Whisky, The Kurayoshi, Pure Malt Whisky 43 % 700 ml, 3962 Yen tax included or 27 €
Matsui Whisky, The Kurayoshi, Pure Malt Whisky, Sherry Cask 43 % 700 ml, 4402 Yen tax included or 30 €
Matsui Whisky, The Kurayoshi, Pure Malt Whisky, Aged 12 Years 43 % 700 ml, 6600 Yen tax included or 44 €
Sakurao Distillery, Sakurao Single Malt 43 % 700 ml, 7260 Yen tax included or 49 €
Komagatake Single Malt Japanese Whisky (Mars Shinshu Distillery by Hombo Shuzo), Non-Chill Filtered 2022 Edition 50 % 700 ml, 9680 Yen tax included or 65 €
Nagahama Distillery Sunburst Loudness 40th Anniversary Special Edition Soul 700 ml 12650 Yen tax included or 85 €
Sakurao Distillery Togouchi Single Malt Japanese Whisky, 43 % 700 ml, 7260 Yen tax included or 49 €
Okinawa Blue Rice Whisky, Subtropical Blend 43 % 750 ml, 5775 Yen tax included or 39 €
Myazaki Honten Co Sunpeace Whisky Extra Gold 37 % 700 ml 890 ¥ / 6 €
Sapporo Whisky 1050 ¥ / 7 €
Sun Shine Extra Special Whisky 1550 ¥ / 10 €
Mars Whisky Three and Seven 1480 ¥ / 10 €
TwinAlps Blended Whisky 1880 ¥ / 13 €
Yamazukara Fine Blended Whisky 2100 ¥ / 14 €
Red Suntory Whisky 810 ¥ / 5,4 €
Suntory Whisky White 1000 ¥ / 6,7 €
Nikka Session 3380 ¥ / 22 €
Nikka Days 5800 ¥ / 39 €
From left to right :
Craft Gin Freeee (from Fukuoka) 47 % 500 ml made from 26 plants 2420 ¥ / 16 €
Asakura Craft Gin (from Fukuoka) 45 % 750 ml 2970 ¥ / 20 €
The Yoto Distillery, Ki No Tea, Kyoto Dry Gin, 45 % 4950 ¥ / 33 €
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