Any recommendations for bourbon to buy in Japan?

[humchan2k]

I am so retardedly excited right now....I am going back to Japan for the first time in 6 years, and the first time since I lived there for over 4, in 2 days....and I unfortunately discovered how great bourbon is AFTER I moved home to the States and found out to my dismay just how amazing the bourbon market is in Japan....so now I am going, and I am hoping some nice souls can help arm me with some knowledge....

Do any of you fine SBers have some preferred choices of Japan market bourbon that you think I should pick up? I am going to look for barrel strength Blanton's, for sure, and definitely a bottle of Maker's Mark black (I think it's 96 proof...I used to get it in Japan, actually, before I had a good sense of the tasty stuff)...but after that, I am clueless.....help?

Arigato....and yoroshiku.

B~

[camduncan]

Four Roses Platinum is a Japan only release I think.

[BourbonJoe]

Evan Williams 15 y/o. Good and inexpensive.
Joe :usflag:

[edo]

The Blanton's Straight From the Barrel is (almost always) excellent.


I use Kawachi-ya a lot for online purchases. Good selection, usually best price. You can window shop, or have a friend in Japan order it for you to pick up when you get here. (Usually, shipping inside Japan is by the order, not the bottle. It's probably less than ¥1000 no matter how many bottles you order at least up to a dozen.)


http://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/inshop-mall/-/%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9C%E3%83%B3-402917/f.3-p.4-s.1-sf.0-sid.190421-st.A-v.3

No Barrel Strenghth Blanton's there now, 'tho.... but ...

Kawachi-ya link to Four Roses Barrel Strength:
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/kawachi/040063400393/

Four Roses Platinum

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/kawachi/295616/

You can also try other Rakuten sites.

If you'll be in Tokyo, you gotta go to Tanaka-ya, very near Mejiro station. Good selection of bourbon, mind-boggling selection of single malt. Bottles on close-out ... better than Tokyo Disneyland for my money :grin:.

[silverfish]

I sent the following to another member who recently asked a similar question:

Evan Williams 12 year (http://www.heavenhill.co.nz/prod01_copy%284%29.htm)

Evan Williams 15 year (http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/s/?@0_mall/kawachi/cabinet/ikou_20091008/img10161438872.jpg)

God's Homemade & Big Al's (http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9146&d=1247149934)

Four Roses Black Label (http://www.fourroses.us/products/black)

Four Roses Super Premium/Platinum (http://www.fourroses.us/products/super_premium)

Fighting Cock 15 year (http://www.bourbonenthusiast.com/forum/DBvd.php?id=71&task=displaybottling)

American Cowboy (various ages) (http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/s/?@0_mall/kawachi/cabinet/products2/cowboy8yo.jpg)

Very Olde St. Nick (various ages) (http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/s/?@0_mall/kawachi/cabinet/products3/stnick12years.jpg)

Black Death (http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/s/?@0_mall/kawachi/cabinet/products8/96749993161.jpg)

Yellow Roses of Texas (http://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/s/?@0_mall/kawachi/cabinet/products8/4974192032117_1.jpg) (various ages)

Additionally, if you search SB, there are some old threads
which may help:

this one (http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7840)

this one (http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5534) (with reviews from a member in Japan)

[StraightBoston]

Unfortunately my favorite Kawachi-ya storefront in Shibuya closed, but as a chain I recommend its selection.

Even more unfortunately, the Makers black wax is long out of production -- if you find any, grab it all because it's export-only and a dusty! DFS will have the IW Harper cologne-bottle decanter, Wild Turkey 8yo and (maybe) 12yo.

The EW15 and FC15 should be the same juice -- pick the cheaper one. I have become fond of the EW12 in the red label as a value pour. (The Yellow Roses are rumored to be the same as well -- pick your age and proof...)

As a splurge, I second (third? fourth?) the FR Platinum/Superpremium. The Very Old St. Nicks and Old Man Winters used to be great but less so in recent years/vintages.

[StraightBoston]

Duh... just looked at my own avatar!

Back row: Four Roses Black (try but don't buy), Four Roses Platinum (bring home)
Front row: Wild Turkey 12yo (meh unless you're a big WT fan), Makers Mark black wax (sorely missed), IW Harper Gold Label (don't even bother trying)

Another Japan-only oddity is Early Times brown label as a KSBW (which I'm told is the Old Forester mashbill.) Early Times yellow label is rumored to be the same stuff as the new ET 354.

[humchan2k]

I found a great bottle of the IW Harper 12 year, in the super swanky "decanter bottle." It's a lighter flavor, clean, and smooth....dig it.

I would have gotten the 4R Super Premium, but honestly, I couldn't stomach it costing $100 US due to the nasty exchange rate.

I sadly never saw the Blanton's barrel strength, only their crappy 80 proof cut stuff, which I have 0 interest in....sort of a bummer.

Thanks for all the help, yo!