Underrated Japanese Whisky Is the Tasty Cocktail Ingredient You Need

If you ordinarily associate great whiskey with regions like Scotland, you're not alone. BUT ... and this is a big but ... you shouldn't sleep on other great whiskey-producing regions of the world. Case in point: Japan. Japanese whisky (spelled without the e in some regions) is one of the most flavorful, versatile, and under-recognized spirits categories in the U.S., at least until recently. As Japanese whisky brands have become more widely available in the U.S., more and more bars and restaurants are adding the spirit to its cocktail offerings and realizing its versatility and beauty. Japanese whisky has become so trendy and in demand, in fact, that some distilleries have had to restrict sales of their finer offerings based on limited supply.

Japanese whisky runs the gamut in flavor from smoky, peaty, quasi-Islay single malts to light, herbal, pale, amber-hued blended varieties. With this much versatility and range, Japan is the region to watch right now for outstanding whisky.

Perfect for use in cocktails or neat for an ideal nightcap, here are the Japanese whisky brands we're sipping right now.