Till now it was technology and automobiles over which Japan held a major sway globally, but now Scotland’s global dominance vis-a-vis whiskey is under threat from the Japs. Japanese distillers, according to drinks writer Michael Jackson, are slowly but steadily edging out Scotch whiskey producers with their brand of malts. Jackson claims that Japan’s rise in whiskey production is not surprising. In 2001, a bottle of Japanese Yoichi single malt produced by Nikka beat Scottish and American rivals to win whiskey Magazine’s “best of the best” competition.

In his new book, to be published sometime this week, Jackson says that Japanese distillers are experimenting with different- sized stills, yeast and casks made from aromatic Japanese oak to enhance the flavour of their brand of whisky.

By 2020, Japan could command as much respect as Scotland in terms of its whiskey production,» he believes.

“When a Japanese whiskey won whiskey Magazine’s 2001 international tasting drawn from 100 whiskies over three years and tested by panels in Scotland, Kentucky and Japan, it caused people to sit up and take notice.” “Japanese companies also now run a number of Scottish distilleries, such as Suntory which owns Bowmore and they use Scottish malts to enhance their whiskies. Japanese oak casks bring a joss-stick-like quality to it as well,” scotsman.com quotes Jackson, as saying. Richard Gordon, managing director of the Scotch Malt whiskey Society, however, says that he has doubts about Japan ever matching Scotland for sheer variety as far as whiskey is concerned.