Drink trends come and go, but Japanese whisky has emerged as a dynamic category of its own on whisky auctions online, full of character, expertise, and history as distillers strive for excellence. Prices for Japanese whisky continue to rise as demand for it increases. Spirit lovers purchase, sample, and hoard it, yet there have been turning points that have caused prices to soar. Much of the whisky as predicted is amazingly delicious. The story behind the exquisite bottles and labels sometimes include elements of a fairy tale.
Still, the aforementioned doesn’t explain why single bottles are fetching over $100,000 these days. Thus, let’s get started on our quest to learn the real reason behind Japanese whisky’s exorbitant prices and why brands selling whisky online keep increasing it:
THE HISTORY OR THE PRICEY TALE OF JAPANESE WHISKY:
The greatest method for understanding the price increase is to examine Japanese whisky over the course of its challenging past. Japan had a huge increase in whisky consumption every year between the late 1930s and the early 1980s. Whether it was on the rocks or with water, everyone favored whisky. The people of Japan lived by it. On the other hand, the popularity of shochu—a light Japanese spirit made from rice—exploded in the late 1980s. Not long after, beer began to gain popularity.
Whisky was suddenly eclipsed, and several distilleries closed during this “crash” of whisky demand. Some persevered, significantly decreasing their yearly output. Remarkably, this tendency alone explains why the price of Japanese whisky has skyrocketed in the present day.
Casks were not filled by manufacturers during Japan’s whisky recession. The Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries’ owner, Nikka, totally stopped manufacturing for a number of years. Something that’s unheard of today.
Up until 2003, when Suntory’s Yamazaki 12-Year-Old earned a Gold at the International Spirits Challenge, whisky in Japan continued to be produced without a lot of attention. In the same competition, the company’s 30-year-old Hibiki earned a trophy a year later. Since then, Japanese whisky has continued to boom. Awards for the best grain whisky, single malt, and blended whisky come from some of the largest and most competitive categories in the business every year. Even those who doubt whisky awards can’t deny this: there must be a good reason why a category receives international recognition each and every year.
Demand followed accolades, and it never stopped. As a result of the decline in consumption that occurred decades earlier, distillery warehouses were quite empty when worldwide demand began to rise. Some of the closed distilleries, like Hanyu and Karuizawa, have stopped producing whisky entirely.
THE HISTORY OF JAPANESE WHISKY LED TO SOME RECORD BREAKING WHISKEY SELLING PRICES:
One great example which needs to be mentioned in this section is Karuizawa whisky. Closed down at the beginning of the millennium, the remaining inventory was purchased and the premises was ultimately destroyed. The story of the missing stills, the lovely picture of a distillery beside the active Asama volcano, and the legend of whisky never being distilled again all started to come into play.
Expressions from Karuizawa began to surface at whiskey auctions online, and as each bottle was released, the price kept rising. The hundreds of dollars soon added up to thousands.
The 52-year-old Karuizawa Archer broke the European record for the most pricey single bottle sold at whisky auction online when it sold for $128,000 at the Spring 2017 Karuizawa grand whisky auction. Next, the Yamazaki 50 broke the previous record for the most expensive bottle ever sold at auction on January 30, 2018, selling for an astounding $299,000, while the Yamazaki 55-Year-Old single malt brought in $795,000. Yes, you read correctly.
There is a unique kind of collector that the Japanese whisky businesses selling whisky online has produced. Many of them don’t care about the price as long as they can get their hands on the bottle they desire. These bottles will be stored and exchanged in the future years; they will never be opened or used. Why? Since it is impossible to lose, that is why.
Rarer bottlings pull in higher prices than the mainstream bestsellers that have been a fan favorite for years, as whisky auction online wins increase dramatically. In Japan, the average mix or 12-year-old whisky retails for about twice as much as it would in the Scotch market. Consider the well regarded Yamazaki 12, Hibiki 17, and Hakushu 12 worldwide. All rising higher and higher.
Every year, a limited number of these best-selling bottles are released in order to deliberately keep customers intrigued without giving too much away. These often hit the secondary market fast after selling out promptly. Over its turbulent past, Japanese whisky has earned a reputation for being exceptional, luxurious, and rare.
FINAL THOUGHTS – SO IS JAPANESE WHISKY WORTH THE INVESTMENT?
Even now, whisky enthusiasts and collectors selling whisky online alike continue to be huge fans of Japanese whisky.
Because of the recent increase in output, the tide will gradually turn back a bit. Numerous new distilleries are in operation around Japan, including a modern interpretation of Karuizawa. However, it will take some time for that to impact the cost.
In summary, the reason Japanese whisky is so costly is that demand for it is high and supply is limited. Is it worthwhile? That would depend on your personal definition of Japanese whisky. After all, everything is relative. We still think Nikka Whisky From The Barrel is a really excellent deal. For the time being at least. Also, if you plan to invest in whisky, conduct some extensive research about the different brands and bottles that are famous on whisky auctions online. Get some grasp about the basics of whisky investment. Only then you will be able to make a sound decision whether this kind of investment is for you or not!