The beginner’s guide to Japanese whisky can be summarized with five big issues, and one big draw: 

Issue #1: It’s complicated. The Japanese whisky world is complicated. It’s very complicated. The legal definition of Japanese whisky is a lot more complex than the cultural expectations. But basically, to be called Japanese whisky, the whisky doesn’t need to be made in Japan. Trusting the producer is the first critical step. Buying second-hand single malt scotch whisky blended with Japanese spirit at inflated Japanese whisky prices is possible.