Japanese blended whisky is a carefully crafted style of whisky that combines malt whisky and grain whisky, typically produced by the same distillery. Unlike Scotch blends, which often involve trading whiskies between different producers, Japanese whisky companies—such as Suntory and Nikka—tend to operate vertically, meaning they distil all components in-house and blend them to achieve harmony and balance. Historically, Japanese blended whisky was made using neutral spirits known as “blending alcohol,” but this changed in the 1960s when distillers like Masataka Taketsuru introduced grain whisky production using Coffey stills. Today, Japanese blends are known for their refined, elegant profiles, often featuring delicate notes of fruit, spice, and floral undertones. Iconic examples include Hibiki Japanese Harmony, Nikka Whisky From The Barrel, and Ichiro’s Malt & Grain.
