Japan Is Drinking So Much Whisky, There's a Severe Shortage

May 16, 2018

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2 min read

Japan Is Drinking So Much Whisky, There's a Severe Shortage

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As The Doors said, "Show me the way to the next whisky bar."

Well, if Jim Morrison had found himself living in Japan today, he'd be singing a different tune — Japan is in the throes of a domestic whisky shortage.

Suntory, a Japanese brewing and distilling company, is halting the sale of its extremely popular Hakushu 12-year and Hibiki 17-year whiskies. The Hakushu 12-year will stop production next month and the Hibiki 17-year will be unavailable to purchase after September. Suntory said the reason for halting production of the whiskies is because demand is much greater than supply and distillers aren't able to produce enough of it.

"It will take quite a long time before we can restart sales of the products," a Suntory representative told Nikkei Asian Review.

These two whiskies are the latest to fall victim to Japan's shortage of spirits. The country has seen a boon in its whiskies and other spirits after getting global attention for its taste and distilling process. Suntory plans to continue investing in whisky production in Japan. The company will attempt to alleviate the shortage by promoting its premium whisky lines that are "non-aged."

H/T: Quartz Media

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