As many readers of my blog know, I mainly concentrate on Scotch. It’s where my whiskey knowledge and interest lies. And on first glance, it may appear that I am departing from Scotland in this post. But there is an important link between Scotch and Japanese Whiskey.
While Scotch Whiskey has a long history, the same can’t be said for Japanese Scotch. Masataka Taketsuru, a young Japanese student, came and studied organic chemistry in Scotland. During his studies, he spent some time in Campbelltown, more specifically the now defunct Hazelburn distillery and learned the craft from master distillers there. Returning to Japan, a birthed an entire Whiskey industry. His contributions, along with a few other key contributors are responsible for the global industry we know and love today.
- Masataka Taketsuru: Often referred to as the father of Japanese whisky, Masataka Taketsuru played a pivotal role in its development. In 1918, Taketsuru traveled to Scotland to study organic chemistry at the University of Glasgow.
- Shinjiro Torii: Shinjiro Torii was a successful businessman and the founder of Kotobukiya, a company that later became Suntory. Torii had a vision of creating a distinctly Japanese whisky that would appeal to Japanese tastes. In 1923, he founded the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first commercial whisky distillery, located in the outskirts of Kyoto. Can you guess who the Master Distiller was?!
- Yamazaki Distillery: The establishment of the Yamazaki Distillery marked the beginning of Japanese whisky production. Taketsuru was hired as the distillery’s first master distiller and brought his expertise in Scotch whisky production to Yamazaki. The distillery’s location was chosen for its high-quality water and favorable climate for whisky aging.
- Nikka Whisky: After a decade at Yamazaki, Taketsuru left to pursue his own vision of whisky making. In 1934, he founded the Yoichi Distillery on the island of Hokkaido, where the climate and environment were similar to Scotland. This distillery marked the beginning of Nikka Whisky, another major player in the Japanese whisky industry.
Japanese whisky has often been crafted to suit the Japanese palate, which favors subtlety and balance. The origins of Japanese whisky are a fascinating blend of cultural exchange, personal ambition, and meticulous craftsmanship. Today, Japanese whisky is celebrated for its quality and innovation, standing proudly on the global stage alongside other esteemed whisky traditions.