How the 1990s Shaped Modern Japanese Whiskey

from Decades Distilled // A History of Whisky · host Kurt Maitland and Sarah Jeltema

Send a textContinuing our deep dive into the 1990s, Kurt and Sarah return to Japan, where the economy collapsed, nightlife slowed, and whiskey sales fell… hard.Instead of cutting corners, Japanese distilleries doubled down on quality. They refined techniques, experimented with casks, and quietly defined what Japanese whiskey should taste like. From Yamazaki and Hibiki to Nikka’s survival story, this episode explores how a decade of low demand created some of the most respected whiskey in the world.The ’90s were quiet—but the barrels were busy.

What this episode covers

Send a text Continuing our deep dive into the 1990s, Kurt and Sarah return to Japan, where the economy collapsed, nightlife slowed, and whiskey sales fell… hard. Instead of cutting corners, Japanese distilleries doubled down on quality. They refined techniques, experimented with casks, and quietly defined what Japanese whiskey should taste like. From Yamazaki and Hibiki to Nikka’s survival story, this episode explores how a decade of low demand created some of the most respected whiskey in th...

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How the 1990s Shaped Modern Japanese Whiskey

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This episode is 42 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 4, 2026.

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