All guides
Everything published so far, newest first. Each guide carries the date we last verified it against the Japanese sources.
Every guide, newest first
Japanese whiskyA Japanese whisky gift guide by budget — and the delivery rules nobody mentions
What to give at $50, $100 and $200, why the famous bottles are the weakest gifts right now, and the shipping rules that quietly ruin alcohol presents.
Buying & shippingHow much import duty will you actually pay on a bottle from Japan?
Work out the real landed cost before you order. The UK formula with current rates, how the US differs, and the mistake that makes a bargain disappear.
Japanese whiskyHow to make a Japanese highball at home
The ratio, the ice, the glass and the stir. Why the Japanese version tastes different from whisky and soda, and which bottle to use.
SakeHow to store sake: before opening, after opening, and the one bottle that cannot wait
Sake is closer to wine than to whisky. Where to keep it, how long it really lasts, and why an opened bottle on the shelf is the most common mistake.
Japanese whiskyIs your Japanese whisky actually Japanese? How to check before you spend $200
The 2021 labelling standard, why it is still voluntary, and four checks that tell you whether a bottle is really Japanese whisky.
Japanese whiskyJapan's new whisky distilleries: where the interesting drinking is now
Kanosuke, Yuza, Saburomaru, Shizuoka, Akkeshi. Who they are, what makes each one different, and why they are better value than the famous names.
Japanese whiskyJapanese whisky prices in 2026: list prices went up, resale prices went down
Two opposite things happened to Japanese whisky pricing at once. Here is what it means for anyone who wants to drink it rather than flip it.
SakeJunmai, ginjo, daiginjo: what sake grades actually mean
The eight legal sake designations, what the polishing percentage tells you, and how to read a Japanese label in about a minute.
Japanese whiskyMizunara: what Japanese oak actually does to whisky
Sandalwood and incense, and a wood so difficult that most distilleries avoid it. What mizunara really contributes, and when it is worth paying for.
SakeOchoko, masu or wine glass: does the vessel really change the taste?
Yes, and more than you would expect. What each traditional vessel is for, why a wine glass often wins, and which ones to buy first.
Buying & shippingPalate Project (formerly Tippsy Sake): what actually changed in 2026
Tippsy Sake became Palate Project in 2026 and cancelled its old Sake Club. Almost every English guide still describes the old company. Here is what is real now.
SakeSake gift sets: what to buy, what to avoid, and what to tell the recipient
Most sake gift sets pair mediocre sake with a ceramic set nobody wanted. Here is what makes a good sake present, and the storage warning it needs.
SakeSake is UNESCO heritage now. Here is what that actually means
Traditional sake-making with koji was inscribed by UNESCO in December 2024. What the listing does, what it does not do, and why it matters to you.
SakeSake serving temperature: the same bottle is two different drinks
Japanese has ten words for how warm sake is. Here is what each one does to the drink, which styles to warm, and why microwaving ruins it.
Buying & shippingSake subscription boxes in 2026: what still exists and what to pick
The biggest sake club in the US closed in 2026 and most guides have not noticed. Here is what is actually running, what it costs, and who should skip it.
SakeSake vs shochu vs soju: what is actually different
Three drinks that get confused constantly. One is brewed, one is distilled, one is Korean — and the word sake does not mean what most guides say it means.
Japanese whiskyThe best Japanese whisky under $100 in 2026 — and what to skip
Now that the speculative premium has gone, this is the band where Japanese whisky makes sense again. Seven bottles worth the money, and the traps.
SakeThe best sake for beginners: what to buy first, by what you already drink
Forget brand lists. Pick your first sake from the drink you already like, in a size you will finish, and know the two words that matter on the label.
Japanese whiskyThe Japanese whisky certification mark: how to check a bottle in five seconds
A certification mark for Japanese whisky arrived in 2025. What the logo looks like, what it guarantees, and the three things it cannot tell you.
SakeWhat is namazake, and why does it need a refrigerator?
Unpasteurised sake is the freshest thing in the category and the least forgiving. What nama is, the three half-measures beside it, and how to buy it safely.
Japanese whiskyYamazaki, Hakushu or Hibiki: which Suntory should you buy first?
Three bottles, one company, three completely different drinks. What separates them, which suits which drinker, and whether any is worth the money now.