The Japanese Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar offers a daily journey through Japan’s diverse and highly regarded whisky scene.
Behind its 24 numbered doors are individual 2cl samples from a wide selection of producers, ranging from internationally recognised names to smaller distilleries and lesser-known regional releases. The calendar includes single malts, blends, grain whiskies, peated expressions and different cask finishes, providing a new tasting experience every day from 1 December to Christmas Eve.
A detailed 56-page tasting booklet and map of Japan accompany the whiskies, helping drinkers discover more about the distilleries, production regions and individual expressions included in the calendar.
A Journey Through Japanese Whisky
Japanese whisky has grown from a category inspired by traditional Scottish production into one of the most sought-after areas of the international whisky market.
The country is now home to established names such as Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Nikka, alongside a growing number of newer distilleries creating distinctive single malts, blended whiskies and experimental releases.
This calendar brings together whiskies from across Japan, offering flavours that move between:
- Crisp orchard fruit
- Citrus and tropical fruit
- Honey and vanilla
- Rich malt
- Sherry-cask fruit
- Toasted oak
- Gentle smoke
- Warming spice
- Floral and herbal notes
Each door introduces a new producer, style or maturation method, making the calendar an accessible way to explore the breadth of whisky currently available from Japan.
24 Different Whiskies Behind Every Door
The calendar contains 24 x 2cl whisky samples, with one dram to open each day throughout December.
The selection includes recognisable Japanese whisky names alongside more unusual bottles that many drinkers may not previously have encountered.
Featured whiskies include:
- Akashi Red
- Amahagan Peated Edition
- Fujimi 7 Virtues for a Samurai
- Hakushu 12 Year Old
- Hatozaki 12 Year Old Umeshu Cask Finish
- Hibiki Japanese Harmony
- Hinotori 5 Year Old
- Kanosuke Hioki
- Komagatake 2022 Edition
- Kujira Ryukyu 5 Year Old
- Mars Maltage Cosmo Wine Cask Finish
- Nikka From the Barrel
- Sakurao Sherry Cask
- Shinobu Pure Malt
- Suntory AO World Whisky
- Tenjaku Whisky
- The Chita
- The San-In Ex-Bourbon Matsui Blended Whisky
- Togouchi Pure Malt
- Toki
- Tottori Blended Whisky
- Tsunuki 2023 Edition
- Yamazaki 12 Year Old
- Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated
The collection covers strengths from approachable 40% ABV blends to more powerful whiskies bottled above 50% ABV.
This variety allows the drinker to compare lighter grain whisky, elegant blends, mature age-stated releases, sherry and wine cask finishes, and stronger peated expressions throughout the month.
Discover Iconic Japanese Whisky
Several of the most recognisable names in Japanese whisky are represented within the calendar.
Yamazaki 12 Year Old comes from Japan’s first malt whisky distillery and is known for its elegant balance of fruit, honey, oak and spice.
Hakushu 12 Year Old offers a fresher and more lightly smoky character, reflecting the forested surroundings of Suntory’s mountain distillery.
Hibiki Japanese Harmony combines carefully selected malt and grain whiskies to create a smooth and layered blend with fruit, floral notes and gentle oak.
Nikka From the Barrel provides a considerably stronger experience at 51.4% ABV, delivering concentrated dried fruit, spice and oak.
The calendar also includes whiskies from producers such as Kanosuke, Sakurao, Mars, Hatozaki, Shinobu and Togouchi, broadening the experience beyond the best-known names.
A Range of Whisky Styles
One of the strongest features of the Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar is the variety found behind its doors.
Some whiskies focus on delicate fruit, vanilla and floral notes, while others bring richer malt, wine cask influence or pronounced smoke.
The selection includes:
Age-Stated Whisky
Hakushu 12 Year Old, Yamazaki 12 Year Old, Hatozaki 12 Year Old and Kujira 5 Year Old provide the opportunity to explore how different Japanese spirits develop through maturation.
Peated Whisky
Amahagan Peated Edition and Yamazakura Kuyuri Peated introduce smoke and earthy character, providing a contrast with the lighter and fruitier whiskies.
Wine and Sherry Cask Finishes
Mars Maltage Cosmo Wine Cask Finish, Sakurao Sherry Cask and Hatozaki Umeshu Cask Finish demonstrate how wine and fruit-based casks can add berries, dried fruit, sweetness and spice.
Higher-Strength Whisky
Nikka From the Barrel, Kanosuke Hioki, Komagatake 2022 and Tsunuki 2023 offer greater intensity, texture and warmth.
Light Blends and Grain Whisky
Toki, Tenjaku and The Chita provide smoother and more approachable styles that work particularly well in Japanese whisky Highballs.
A Detailed 56-Page Tasting Booklet
The calendar includes a 56-page booklet designed to accompany the daily tasting experience.
The guide contains:
- An introduction to spirits tasting
- Information about each featured producer
- A small image of every whisky
- Space for daily tasting notes
- Details to help compare different styles
A map of Japan is also included, showing the location of the distilleries featured throughout the calendar.
This adds useful context to each dram, helping drinkers understand how the country’s different regions, climates and producers contribute to the finished whisky.
Please note that the included tasting booklet is written in German.
How to Enjoy Each Daily Dram
Each sample is best tasted slowly in a small whisky or tulip-shaped glass.
Pour the whisky and allow it to rest for several minutes before smelling it gently. Look for broad aromas such as fresh fruit, vanilla, malt, smoke, oak or spice.
Take a small sip neat before adding any water. Higher-strength whiskies may reveal more fruit and sweetness after a few drops of water are added.
The accompanying booklet can be used to record:
- Aroma
- Flavour
- Texture
- Sweetness
- Smoke
- Cask influence
- Finish
- Overall score
Recording each whisky makes it easier to identify favourites and decide which full-size bottles to explore after Christmas.
Explore More Advent Calendars at HTFW
Continue the festive tasting experience with more whisky and spirits advent calendars available at HTFW:
- Japanese Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar with 3cl Drams
- Scotch Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar
- English, Irish, Welsh & Scotch Whisky 25 Day Advent Calendar
- Scottish Choice 24 Day Advent Calendar
- A Whisky Tour of the World 2nd Edition Advent Calendar
- Premium Whisky Secret Spirits 25 Day Advent Calendar
- Old & Rare Whisky 25 Day Advent Calendar
- Browse the complete Advent Calendar collection
The 3cl Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar provides larger daily measures, while the Scotch and Scottish Choice calendars focus entirely on Scottish whisky.
A Whisky Tour of the World provides generous 5cl samples from international producers, while the Premium Secret Spirits calendar offers independently bottled Scotch whisky at an average strength of 48% ABV.
For an even more luxurious Christmas countdown, the Old & Rare Whisky calendar includes mature and collectable whisky samples from sought-after releases.
Why the Japanese Whisky Advent Calendar Stands Out
This calendar offers:
- 24 different whiskies from Japan
- One 2cl sample for every day from 1 to 24 December
- Single malts, blends and grain whiskies
- Age-stated and limited releases
- Peated, sherry-finished and wine-finished whiskies
- Recognised names including Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Nikka
- Whiskies bottled between 40% and 51.4% ABV
- A detailed 56-page tasting booklet
- Space for personal tasting notes
- A map showing the featured distilleries
- Premium Christmas gift packaging
The inclusion of both famous and less familiar producers makes it suitable for established Japanese whisky enthusiasts as well as drinkers exploring the category for the first time.
Why Buy Advent Calendars at HTFW?
Hard To Find Whisky offers an extensive range of whisky and spirits advent calendars, covering Scotch, Japanese whisky, world whisky, rum, gin, Port and mixed spirits.
Customers can explore:
- 12, 24 and 25-day calendars
- Japanese and world whisky collections
- Scotch-only tasting calendars
- Premium independent bottlings
- Old and rare whisky selections
- Generous 3cl and 5cl samples
- Gift-ready Christmas presentation
With options ranging from accessible tasting sets to exceptionally rare whisky collections, HTFW offers advent calendars for every level of enthusiast.
Final Thoughts
The Japanese Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar is more than a festive countdown. It is an opportunity to explore 24 different whiskies from one of the world’s most exciting whisky-producing countries.
The selection moves from approachable blends and grain whiskies to age-stated single malts, wine cask finishes, peated releases and powerful higher-strength expressions.
Recognisable names such as Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Nikka are joined by whiskies from Kanosuke, Sakurao, Mars, Hatozaki and other producers, creating a varied journey through Japan’s modern whisky industry.
The included tasting booklet and distillery map add further depth to the experience, allowing the recipient to learn about each whisky and record their favourite discoveries throughout December.
Ready to discover a new whisky from Japan every day until Christmas?
Shop the Japanese Whisky 24 Day Advent Calendar now at HTFW.
