Japanese whisky, which enjoys growing appreciation worldwide, is protected – starting from Monday – by new rules, designed to discourage foreign producers from using this name, reports AFP.
The international recognition of this alcohol has been increasing since the beginning of the 2000s, both among professionals and consumers, and sales and prices are increasing, writes News.ro.
But the name “Japanese whiskey” suffered from a lack of rules, which allowed some foreign manufacturers to use the name, despite the lack of any connection to Japan.
Strict specifications from the Japan Spirits and Liqueur Manufacturers Association came into effect on Monday.
In order to be able to use this designation, the producers must now use spring water from Japan, and the whiskey casks must be stored in the archipelago for at least three years.
“We believe that this will contribute to improving the reputation (of Japanese whisky), because it will allow our international customers to distinguish it from other products”, welcomes the Suntory group, one of the most important producers.
But the limit of these decisions is that they do not provide for any sanction against violators.
There are about 100 distilleries in Japan, according to experts, and annual whiskey exports are expected to rise to 56 billion yen (343 million euros) in 2022, 14 times the level of a decade ago.
A few brands – such as Nikka Yoichi ten-year-old or Yamazaki 12-year-old – have won prestigious international awards, and Japanese distillers now anticipate their production decades in advance to meet demand.
Suntory’s 17-year-old Hibiki whiskey had a moment of glory when Bill Murray’s character in the 2003 film Lost in Translation filmed an advertisement praising the drink in a scene that became cult.
