Are you looking for the best Japanese whisky that won’t bust your budget? This post should help enthusiasts find affordable and authentic whisky from Japan.

Prices for Japanese whisky continue to increase. But for now, each of these recommended whiskies costs $100 or less and has a wide distribution.

And just as important, they’re all made in Japan, with a few exceptions. I avoid placing fake Japanese whiskies on this list.

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Finding and Buying Budget Japanese Whisky

Authentic, budget-friendly Japanese whiskies are a dying breed. We suggest you shop around before making purchases to avoid getting ripped off. Prices for each whisky listed here are the average, but this will vary by location.

Every state has different laws around shipping alcohol. Where it’s legal, it may be the easiest way to get your next bottle.

Our recommended and sponsored online retailers will help you shop smarter. But even amongst them, prices may vary. So be sure to look at many options before making your purchase.

Blended Whiskies

Blended whisky tends to be relatively light and smooth. Prices are usually low, as well, though expensive exceptions exist.

This is a big category with many variations. Typically, blended whisky is a mix of pot-distilled malt whisky and continuous column-distilled grain whisky. Malt content can range from 25% to 75% of the blend.

Japanese blended whisky is a tricky subject. It is very common for producers to include Scotch into these blends. Manufacturers often keep their sources and practices secret, so buyers beware. Suntory is easily the most transparent maker of blended Japanese whisky.

Suntory Toki

Toki is the most widely-available Japanese whisky in America. Suntory wisely released this product when stocks of its age-statement classics were at all-time lows. And it’s been a success.

This is also the most affordable Japanese whisky on this list, and it does some things that these more expensive whiskies cannot.

Namely, Suntory Toki is ideal for making cocktails. That’s a rarity for whiskies distilled entirely in Japan. The low price and mixability make Toki super popular among restaurants, bars, and customers.

Toki also has good genes. Hakushu malt and Chita grain whiskies make up most of the blend, plus a touch of Yamazaki malt. Aging happens mostly in American oak casks, with some Spanish oak in the mix too.

My Suntory Toki whisky review has more details if you’re interested.

Mars Iwai Blue Label

Mars Iwai is one of the most affordable, authentic Japanese whiskies on the market. It drinks like a mild Japanese Bourbon and is great in cocktails.

Iwai features a mash bill of 75% corn and 25% malted barley. It’s aged in ex-Bourbon casks. The corn and first-fill Bourbon barrels give Iwai a semi-sweet and creamy profile. There are notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and apple, as well.

Check out my Mars Iwai Blue Label review if you want to learn more.

Mars Iwai 45

Mars Iwai 45 is a newer whisky from the Mars Shinshu Distillery. It’s basically the same whisky as Blue Label but bottled a more robust 45% abv.

This whisky is outstanding in cocktails or on the rocks, not so much neat. And Mars Iwai 45 stands out in whisky cocktails that have some dilution. The Japanese whisky highball comes to mind. But other ideal drinks include whisky and Coke, whisky sour, Paper Airplane, and Blood and Sand.

Iwai 45’s cocktail prowess and low price make it worth stocking at your home bar.

Mars Iwai Tradition

There are very few Japanese whiskies that can compete with Mars Iwai Tradition from a value standpoint. It’s tasty in cocktails, on the rocks, or even neat. This blended whisky is distilled at the Mars Shinshu Distillery in Nagano.

Iwai Tradition has a mash bill of 75% malt and 25% corn. A bit of the malt is peated, as well. Aging happens in a mix of Bourbon, Sherry, and wine casks.

Suntory Toki is easier to find, but an online search will likely reveal local or delivery Tradition options. Prices will vary by location, but be mindful not to overspend.

Learn more details from my Mars Iwai Tradition review.

Akashi “White Oak”

Akashi whisky is one of the smaller brands of Japanese whisky. The tiny White Oak Distillery (Eigashima Shuzo) makes their whiskies with a pair of copper pot stills.

Akashi Blended is one of their flagship brands. They do use some imported Scotch grain whisky in the blend.

And overall, Akashi White Oak tastes like a blended Scotch whisky. It’s smooth, light, and grainy with a hint of peat.

Akashi Blended is more of a mixer than a contemplative sipper. But that’s not a bad thing at this price. Consider it for your next Manhattan, Penicillin, or Old Fashioned.

This is another Japanese whisky you’ll want to shop around for, as pricing varies considerably.

Check out my Akashi Blended whisky review for more info.

Nikka “From the Barrel”

Nikka’s From the Barrel is one of the hottest Japanese whiskies right now. Before Whisky Advocate named it their Whisky of the Year, it was available for a much lower price. Still, if you look, From the Barrel can be found for right around $100.

This blended whisky deserves its strong reputation. It uses a blend of Yoichi and Miyagikyo malt whiskies, plus column-distilled grain whisky. Nikka also uses some whisky from Ben Nevis of Scotland. The elite components are masterfully blended, then bottled at 51.4% abv.

From the Barrel has a sweet and soft profile. Flavors include honeyed malt, dried fruit, citrus, and spice. It shines with a few ice cubs or with a splash of water. It can also make a formidable Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

Prices varied for this whisky more than any other on this list. So once again, it pays to be patient and shop around.

I’ve written extensively about Nikka From the Barrel. Check out my review to get more tasting notes, cocktail recommendations, and more.

Single Malt Whiskies

Single Malt whiskies are considered a premium product. Many of the most famous brands of Japanese whisky fall into this category. These are names like Yamazaki, Hakushu, Yoichi, and Ichiro’s Malt. Unfortunately, few of these cost less than $100.

Regardless, expect a more robust profile with a rich flavor from these whiskies. Prices tend to be higher as well, though there are exceptions.

Nikka Yoichi

Nikka Yoichi is one of the original brands of whisky in Japan. This Hokkaido distillery has been operating since 1934 and is the main rival to Suntory.

Since day one, Scotch was the model for Yoichi’s whiskies. And this Yoichi Single Malt exemplifies the house style. It’s firm and peaty, with roasted malt and briny notes. There are fruity and spicy characteristics that provide balance, as well.

Nikka Yoichi Single Malt doesn’t carry an age statement. But it does contain a lot of older whisky.

Priced at around $100, Nikka Yoichi is a bargain. It’s one of the best Japanese whiskies on the market. And there is enough supply that you should not have to overspend to get your own.

This is one of my favorite whiskies. If you want to know more about it, check out my Nikka Yoichi whisky review.

Nikka Miyagikyo

Nikka Miyagikyo is the fruitier, softer sibling to Yoichi. The heavy peat influence is gone, making for a more approachable whisky. It also has a slightly sweeter impression.

Just like Yoichi, there used to be a lot of cool age statement Miyagikyo brands. Those old whiskies are now mostly blended into this non-age statement bottling.

Nikka Miyagikyo isn’t as well-known as Yoichi, so it may be a little harder to find. Pricing is similar, however.

As always, shop around! There is enough supply of this single malt to warrant walking away from bad deals.

Grain Whiskies

Grain whiskies aren’t that common. Most often, they’re combined with malt whisky to make blended whiskies. A continuous column still is almost always used. And the result is a light and creamy whisky.

Nikka Coffey Grain

There is no coffee in Nikka Coffey Grain whisky. The name comes from the use of old-school Coffey stills for production. This is the original design for the continuous column still, and Nikka has a pair. Coffey stills produce a very soft spirit with a light body.

Nikka Coffey Grain features a grain bill with 95% corn. This further enhances the creamy and light nature of the whisky. Malted barley makes up the remaining portion of the mash. It has a semi-sweet profile, with grain and barrel flavors dominating.

In some ways, Nikka Coffey Grain is similar to Japanese Bourbon but without a heavy char. It goes well in a Mint Julep, Old Fashioned, or Manhattan.

Nikka Coffey Malt

Nikka Coffey Malt is the sturdier sibling to Coffey Grain. Again, its name references the Coffey stills used to distill it.

Nikka Coffey Malt uses 100% malted barley. This gives it a rich, savory character. The use of the Coffey stills means this Nikka is lighter and creamier than if it were produced in a pot still. It’s also the reason why it’s considered a grain whisky and not a single malt.

This is a great whisky. However, some portion of it comes from Scotland. An unspecified amount is first distilled at Ben Nevis. Then an additional distillation run is done in Coffey stills at the Miyagikyo Distillery.

Regardless, this is a unique and complex malt whisky. Nikka Coffey Malt is widely available, so don’t overpay.

Koji Whiskies

Also known as rice whisky, this new class of Japanese whisky is essentially barrel-aged honkaku (once-distilled) rice shochu. They’re not allowed to be labeled as such due to regrettable international trade laws. And because of these laws, these products are only available in the US.

And to me, that’s a silver lining. Because at the end of the day, koji whisky can be outstanding. And unlike a lot of other new fake Japanese whisky brands, koji whisky is actually an authentic product of Japan.

Anyways, after years of aging in casks, shochu starts to look and taste like whisky. Usually, they are a little lighter in body and more fruity.

Fukano 10 Year

Fukano whisky is one of the pioneers of koji whisky. This Kumamoto distillery has a long history of making excellent rice shochu.

Fukano has also experimented with barrel aging over the last few decades. I use the term experiment because dark shochu is not allowed to be sold. This sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Luckily, some entrepreneurial soul happened to taste some of this barrel-aged spirit and had a great idea. In the US, malted barley isn’t a legal requirement for whisky. So in America, Fukano whisky could be sold as rice whisky.

And it’s not just some gimmicky Japanese whisky scam. Fukano whisky is delicious.

Fukano releases a lot of different bottlings every year. Their 10-year is perhaps the distillery’s best to date. It has a nose that’s both floral and fruity while also showing a lot of spice. On the palate, this is a medium to light-bodied whisky. Again, there’s lots of fruit, plus honey, sandalwood, and caramel.

Ohishi Sherry Single Cask

Ohishi whisky has a very similar story to Fukano. They are a traditional rice shochu producer from Kumamoto, Japan.

And just like Fukano, Ohishi produces many different bottlings of koji whisky every year. But their Sherry Cask is their flagship brand.

This koji whisky is light and incredibly smooth. Tasting notes include green apple, raisin, dried flowers, steamed rice, cinnamon, caramel, and almond.

Though some enthusiasts don’t take koji whisky seriously, I think it’s one of the most exciting developments in Japanese whisky in ages. And unlike other new brands with shady origins and high prices, Ohishi whiskies are affordable and authentic Japanese products.