Going mad for Japanese whiskies

The Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky is the latest product from Japanese whisky producer Nikka. Photo: TWE Sdn Bhd

All over the world, people seem to have suddenly gone mad for Japanese whisky. Last week, a bottle of Japanese whisky, a Karuizawa 1960 52YO Cask #5627 (one of only 41 bottles in the world), was auctioned for US$118,000 (RM500,261), a world record price for a single bottle of Japanese whisky.

At the same auction by Bonham’s Auction Hong Kong, an almost complete collection of the legendary Hanyu Ichiro Card Series was sold for US$490,000 (RM2.1mil), also a record for a combined lot of Japanese whisky.