Japanese Whisky: Facts, Figures and Taste | Ulf Buxrud

Japanese Whisky: Facts, Figures and Taste by Ulf Buxrud is a pioneering book about the history, distilleries and whiskies of Japan. Published in 2008, at a time when Japanese whisky was still far less internationally known than it is today, the book has since become a fascinating historical record of the development of Japanese whisky.

For his research, Buxrud visited Japanese whisky distilleries and documented both active and former producers. Each distillery is presented with background information, history and detailed technical data, some of which had not previously been published.

The book covers important names and distilleries in Japanese whisky history and includes material on distilleries such as Fuji-Gotemba, Karuizawa and Yoichi. The sections on closed or greatly changed distilleries are especially valuable today for enthusiasts and collectors of Japanese whisky.

In addition to distillery history, Buxrud documents a wide range of Japanese whisky bottlings, supported by tasting notes, photographs and commentary. This makes the book not only a historical study but also a practical reference work on Japanese whiskies available at the time.

The book also explores Japanese whisky culture more broadly, including distillery visits, travel in Japan, whisky bars, retailers and the search for Japanese whisky. Contemporary sources note that Buxrud had visited all eleven distilleries covered in the book and had tasted virtually all of their products.

This richly illustrated hardcover contains 150 pages and offers a valuable snapshot of Japanese whisky before its major international boom. Distilleries and bottlings that are now legendary or highly collectible are presented from the perspective of 2008.

For enthusiasts of Suntory, Nikka, Japanese single malt and Japanese whisky history, this is a particularly interesting collector’s reference.

Book details

Author: Ulf Buxrud
Title: Japanese Whisky: Facts, Figures and Taste
Publisher: DataAnalys Scandinavia AB, Malmö
Edition: First edition
Publication year: 2008
First printing: May 2008
Language: English
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 150
ISBN: 9789163320934
Subject: Japanese whisky, whisky distilleries, whisky history, tasting notes, Japanese whisky culture, whisky collecting