Japanese whisky pop up opens at HKIA

The burgeoning awareness and popularity of Japanese whisky has prompted duty free retailer DFS to open a pop up store in Hong Kong International Airport.

The store will operate for the rest of August showcasing the most popular brands of the niche liquor category.

While Japan has been producing single malt whiskies since the 1920s, only recently has its unique approach caught the eye of European and North American connoisseurs and consumers alike.

Jim Murray, author of the world’s leading whisky guide, recently named the Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as the “World Whisky of the Year 2015” in his Whisky Bible and 2015 also marked the first year no Scotch was included in the top five. Unlike Scottish and American whiskeys which are blended, often from up to 100 different distilleries, Japanese single malts are derived from one single distillery resulting in a subtle, refined yet complex flavor.

DFS says its selection of Japanese whiskies is a reflection of its strong brand partnerships and the growing demand for single malts globally.

The Japanese whisky pop-up at Hong Kong International Airport and its recently opened Wines & Spirits Duplex at Singapore’s Changi airport also have a dedicated single malt section with highly trained staff on hand to facilitate tastings before passengers fly.

“The lure of Japanese whisky reflects consumers’ growing focus on craftsmanship and a return to tradition. Unlike Scottish or American blended whiskies which have achieved much of their popularity due to mass production, the Japanese favor an artisanal approach, relying on a single source to achieve their vision of a perfect single malt.”

Brands featuring in the pop up include Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve, Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve and Hibiki Japanese Harmony Masters Select.

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