Scotch whisky Big in Japan
Marcin Miller captures the spirit of the Far East, where Scotch malt whisky is revered and there is no indigenous whisky publication to indulge the passion of the many Japanese Malt enthusiasts
For many years, the Far East has been regarded as an area in which Britain’s fifth biggest export, Scotch malt whisky, is revered. Many whisky producers have attempted to seduce the Japanese with exclusively packaged products appealing to the high-spending enthusiasts and collectors looking to indulge their passion. Japan has no indigenous publications about whisky, which encouraged Whisky Magazine to hold an event in Tokyo with the sole objective of celebrating the whiskies of the world.
The evening began with a seminar format: a panel comprising of Whisky Magazine’s Consultant Editors Michael Jackson and Jim Murray, Isle of Arran’s Harold Currie, Master Blender at JBB Richard Paterson, Managing Director of The Whisky Publishing Company Damian
Riley-Smith together with the Editor & Publisher of the magazine was admirably controlled by Tsuchiya Mamoru, Japan’s leading whisky writer.
Following a welcome from Matthew Rous, the Commercial Officer of the British Embassy, David Croll (Whisky Magazine’s representative in Japan ) and Damian Riley-Smith introduced the magazine and the panel. During Michael Jackson’s opening comments a team of barmen organised by Mr Suzuki of Speyside Way poured and distributed five samples to each of the 650 people in attendance. This Herculean task was completed in approximately 8 minutes and with a minimum of fuss.
Harold Currie then presented a potted (or bottled) history of the Isle of Arran malt, which was the first sample in .....
To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue
or subscribe to Whisky Magazine to have every issue delivered direct to your door.
You can unlock and read this entire article with 1 of your community tokens by clicking here.
By Marcin Miller
Section : Japanese Whisky
Page number : 58
