New rules governing Japanese whisky production âlong overdueâ
11 March 2021 By Lauren Eads
Rules to regulate the production of Japanese whisky come into force on April 1, with producers no longer able to label malts blended with world whiskies as ‘Japanese’ and marking the “dawning of a new era” in the evolution of Japanese whisky.
Ian Chang, vice president Karuizawa Distillers Inc., and master blender and distiller at Komoro Distillery
Last month, as reported by
the drinks business, The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association issued a new set of labelling guidelines for Japanese whisky âin order to contribute to the appropriate selection of whisky products by consumers in Japan and abroad, and to thereby protect the interests of consumers, ensure fair competition, and improve quality.â
Whisky is big business, and no more so than in 2020 it seems. With distilleries temporarily closing due to Covid restrictions and production slowing, casks produced in 2020 are predicted to become some of the rarest and most valuable in the future, believes cask whisky investment company Whiskey and Wealth Club.
While it will be some years before that prediction is proven true, 2020 has certainly been tumultuous, which could well see it remembered as a “significant time for the history of the whisky industry”, the company has said.
Predicting the future’s big selling drams is an inherently risky business, but what is clear is that the whisky investment has never been more buoyant, with returns typically outpacing wine, art and jewellery, with the value of whisky rising by 582% since 2009, according to Knight Frank’s 2019 Wealth Report.