@Slàinte Mhath Thanks so much!! It's very interesting, although I don't think I will be going back to Japan so soon (I really want to go to Hungary next). I read what you wrote and yes, Nikka is lower quality even though there are two that I adore. Yes, I'm sure I didn't search hard enough... I had a lot to do and very little time.

https://www.whisky.com/forum/discussion/452/availability-of-japanese-whisky-in-japan

After I returned from Japan, I wrote a rather detailed guide on availability of Japanese whiskies in Japan. It's true that malts with age statement are hard to find, but it's possible if you know where to look...

@Slàinte Mhath A Japanese lady recommended that I go to the Hakushu distillery, so it's giving me strange déjà vu hearing it from you. But I should visit a local Breton distillery.

@Slàinte Mhath I'm only 21 years old and yet I've tried a ridiculous array of whiskys!... But anyway, I really recommend French whisky if you want to try something new, no two regions have similar whisky, I love it!

@Slàinte Mhath I never went to the distillery, I tried it in Roppongi near the Suntory museum. There was only the no age statement left in the shops I went to sadly... In fact I never found a full sized Yamazaki or Hakushu when I went to Japan.. they running tragically low. I feel embarrassed for loving the no-age statement version, I bet it isn't as good as the 12 Year versions of both, but they are so hard to get.

Did you have the chance to visit the distillery? I have visited Yamazaki and Nikka Yoichi this summer, but didn't make it to Hakushu. It's a rather remote area and not easy accessible by train. You know that in Japan, you can get both Yamazaki 12 and Hakushu 12 as miniatures?