Well surprise, I've been drinking a nit of whisky while I've been in japan.
On the way here I had a bit of:
Makers Mark 101 - similar spicy high octane taste to wild Turkey 101, but a sweeter finish. This was good but I prefer the wild Turkey 101, and if you can get it...wild Turkey 101 8yr.
Makers Mark cellar aged - very delicious! The high alcohol (~58%) content was hardly noticeable against the intense barrel flavours. It was smooth and very drinkable.
Johnny walker blue label xo cognac cask finish - surprise! This was damn good. I wouldn't have paid the $450ish/bottle being asked for it, but it was good. A faint hint of smoke, sweet and fruity from the cognac, and mildly spicy.
Canadian club 6yr - quite spicy and not as sweet as the usual Canadian club. I don't feel the need to drink this again.
Ichiros malt wine cask reserve - strange nose. It was all "yeah that's whisky, but what is that offensive note running g though it?" It tasted good - sweet, tangy, short finish, only a hint of the wine cask. I've had a fair bit of whisky from this brand and they generally do much better than this.
Zenkoji pure malt whisky - from nagano and made near the beautiful zenkoji temple with spring water from Mt Fuji...apparently. anyway this was delicious. Slightly sweet and warming.
Fuji Sanroku - an easy drinking inexpensive whisky.
Suntory Toki - apparently a blend of hakushu and yamazaki whiskies. This is smooth easy drinking with a light taste. It goes well in a highball or cocktail.
Suntory Chita - I think is reasonably well known at home? It is a smooth easy drinking whisky with a little more body than Toki without being as heavy duty as yamazaki or hakushu.
Nikka yoichi - this is great stuff. Gently smoked (a good entry level amount for those unfamiliar with peat) and complex flavours. It's one of my favourites currently.
Nikka miyagikyo - this is another delicious offering, more of a fruity whisky.
Nikka super rare and old - gentle and creamy in the mouth, not a very strong whisky but still enjoyable.
Nikka black clear deep blend 45⁰ - for a cheap whisky this is very enjoyable. It isn't going to blow your mind, actually it might given the price to taste ratio. I got 700ml for about $15.
Fuji gotemba giraffe whisky land - that may not be an accurate translation. This is a Kiran whisky from Mt Fuji with no age statement. It is quite vanilla forward, smooth, and flavoursome. Very easy in the mouth and on the pocket...less than $15 for the 500ml bottle.
Kiran single malt japanese whisky Fuji - again with the translation issues...
There has been others, I've stopped paying enough attention. There was a lot one day last week ending at 430am. Ummmm also been the usual suspects - yamazaki (12 year and no age), hakushu, hibiki (various), and taketsuru.
A friend here took us to a liquor wholesaler the other day. I didn't want to lug bottles with me for the next 5 weeks so didn't grab anything. One of my clients grabbed a couple I've never seen before including one with a label made of cloth that has been embroided, like a scout badge