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@casualtorture The Jefferson’s fascinates me. I’ve yet to try any of their offerings, but I’m really hoping to try one of their “Ocean” expressions. It may seem gimmicky, but I’d love to try it.

@OdysseusUnbound they had it in Nashville for a while but wanted way too much

I wasn't sure if there was another thread related to whisky news, and after a search, I guess this thread is as close as I will get. HA.

Anyway, I was watching various youtube videos, and luckily the algorithms worked out to recommend some news, albeit in Japanese. It appears that Nikka Whisky will stop selling (ending sales) the Taketsuru aged stated whiskies, 17, 21, 25yo (Pure Malts) starting in March. The interesting bit of the news is a bit strange to me, but it all has to do with the high demand of whisky for the use of making highballs, they are finding it difficult to maintain production and allow the spirit to age.

Let's hope there is more to it, and my translation was just poor.

Anyway, here is the Japanese: 　ニッカウヰスキーは主力のウイスキー「竹鶴」のうち、ラベルに熟成年数が入った高級路線の竹鶴17年、21年、25年の販売を3月末で終了します。ハイボール人気などで国産ウイスキーの需要が高まるなか、長時間の熟成を必要とする原酒の在庫が不足し、供給が追い付かないことが原因です。ニッカは生産設備を増強し、原酒を安定して供給できるようになれば3種類の竹鶴を再び売り出したいとしています。

And the link to the video I watched. www.youtube.com/watch

I am sure we all have our reasons for avoiding Japanese whisky with age statement, but I guess the primary one is the inflated price, post-Jim Murray's whisky of year claim for the Yamazaki Sherry cask 2013, in 2015. And lastly, the media 'hype' that increased popularity of Japaese whisky, thus increasing demand. Low production, created a condition for limited supplies, high demand and the people with money started to buy them up quickly. Ugh!. (I will stop my ramblings).

And I will end by saying, if you saw some of my posts on the threads about 'which bottle did you just buy, and why?', you notice I was lucky/fortunate to have been able to snatch up three bottles of the 17yo Taketsuru a while ago. I had brief moment of regret, when I could have use the money for other things, but that feeling of regert didn't last long. And it is surely gone after reading this news. HA!

Great post @ajjarrett!

That wretched ハイボール is wreaking havoc on the Japanese whisky industry!!

Ever since the boom in its popularity, distilleries are focusing on pumping out whiskies (often barely) suitable for mixing and little else....

出身はどこですか？

With regard to the Japanese article @ajjarrett, I’m also curious to see what 3 expressions Nikka will be releasing....

@CanadianNinja

Well, I am sure they will all be NAS and designed for making highballs. Of course, that does not all imply lower quality. I just hope they don't expect people to pay high prices for what ever they are releasing. Let's hope we see the likes of a double digit aged stated pure malt, single malt or what ever else, come out not too long from now.

You’re probably right @ajjarrett.

And of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean lower quality.

Unfortunately though, the vast majority of the NAS stuff being produced in Japan recently is absolutely lower quality IMO.

@ajjarrett, @CanadianNinja, one more Connosr Top 10 Rated Whisky goes out of production!

I am very happy that I own a bottle of Takesuru 17 yo.

Maybe one of you two should post a Japanese Whisky Corner type of discussion to make a regular place for this sort of conversation...complete with the youtube videos in Japanese, of course.

@CanadianNinja

I am guessing you have tried quite a bit of the NAS coming out of Japan. I have a few, which isn't marvelous stuff, but quite enjoyable. I think the 'best' Japanese NAS that I have in my library, is the Nikka from the Barrel.

Gents, I know and like Nikka From the Barrel (can't buy it here); are there other Japanese NAS products which you consider not just good, but very good?

I know and have access to Nikka Coffey Malt and Nikka Coffey Grain whiskies, through my sister's collection. Are there any other NAS products that you consider worth buying bottles of?

It is quite fair to say that there are fewer NAS Japanese whiskies that I haven’t tried than what I have tried @ajjarrett.

I completely agree with you, Nikka From The Barrel is easily the best NAS expression in my opinion. This whisky has yet to disappoint me, especially in terms of price value.

Personally, I have really been enjoying my bottle of Nikka Date @Victor.

I have no idea if it’s available to you....

PM me if you’re interested... ; )

Which is why Nikka Whisky From the Barrel was named #1 affordable whisky in the world by Whisky Advocate Magazine one year ago. NWFB is not obscure, unknown, or underestimated in world circles.

@CanadianNinja, yes I am interested in Nikka Miyagikyo Date, certainly to taste and maybe to buy, but it is a felony crime in my state to accept a shipment of spirits. The name is useful to know, though. Wine-searcher.com shows none available in USA or Canada.

@Victor Hibiki Harmony is a nice whisky. I received a bottle as a gift just over a year ago. I need to get around to reviewing it. Not sure I would have bought a bottle of it without tasting it, and not sure how much it costs. The version I have is a travel retail bottling.

‘...but it is a felony crime in my state to accept a shipment of spirits.’

Sorry to hear that @Victor!

Here in Japan sending and receiving alcohol is perfectly legal.... I sometimes forget it isn’t that way everywhere... ; )

Speaking of Japan, here is a great read about how the re-birth of the bourbon market over the last 40 years was made in Japan:

vinepair.com/articles/…

Fantastic read @Victor.

Very interesting! Thank you.

Thought people might be interested. It's rare that I see an article that addresses interesting aspects of whisky.

Not much new there, but a quick read.

theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/…

Tragedy strikes!

desmoinesregister.com/story/news/…

@Nozinan, I can't "like" your post, it wouldn't make sense to like a post about an overturned truckload of Templeton Rye

Could this be where Compass Box got the idea for "Peat Monster?

This article talks about Zombies too...

cbc.ca/radio/whatonearth/…

I wonder what impact this may have on a sustainable peat supply for the future... and whether or not we can justify Laphroaig in light of global warming...

@Nozinan interesting about long-burning peat fires, underground and not. True of coal too. Here's an astounding example, Centralia, Pennsylvania, a town abandoned 56 years ago because it is unlivable due to the toxic products from the underground coal fires still burning:

huffpost.com/entry/…

@Victor That is a long burn.... but is it as impressive as the slightly less long burning but still fiery Hell's door?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

(Coming soon from Ardbeg...)

@Nozinan beautiful and impressive, but how dangerous can it be if the Turkish government is using it as a tourist attraction? Unless, of course, you get too close to the rim...

@Victor It wouldn't take long to roast a weenie on that campfire.

@paddockjudge Isn’t “wasted” Templeton just karma delivering a well-deserved “f••k you” to the founder?

@OdysseusUnbound Tell us more?

@OdysseusUnbound

Amen, well said.

@Nozinan Josh over at The Whiskey Jug has looked into Templeton a few times and it’s not pretty. Their CEO has been sued and found guilty of deceiving customers, if I recall correctly.

thewhiskeyjug.com/rye-whiskey/…