I miss being able to pickup Yamazaki 12 for $65. That said, while I like Japanese Whiskey I find it more novelty than quality. It's a great conversation piece for those not familiar with whiskey but I don't think it's some kind of Nectar of the Eastern God's...
I do regret not purchasing the bottle of Yamazaki 18 I saw in a store a few years back tho. Impossible to find nowadays.
I started drinking Japanese whiskey because it was a better value than Scotch. Now I drink Scotch again because it's a better value than Japanese whiskey.
I am with you and I do the same with wine. South Africa actually do make their own whiskey which tends to be better priced than the imports. Drinking imported single malt whiskey is seen as a status symbol. I am sometimes amused when I see someone order a 12-18 year old whiskey only to add lemonade to it. All to show off that they can afford the 12-18 year old whiskey.
Funny enough that's the one enormous benefit of having a state run liquor market in Oregon. I can search all liquor stores inventory and see that a store nearby has Yamazaki 18 for $249.95. Is it worth that price?
The store which had it only had one bottle and just sold it. Looks like your post triggered many calls to the store. The clerk knew exactly what I was calling for, haha.
I bought Yamazaki 18 for $200 several years ago and I thought it was worth the price. It's certainly not a daily whisky, maybe a Friday evening kind of whisky :)
I miss the Hibiki 12 though. I remember when I could afford it :(
I brought a bottle back from duty-free in Japan back in 2010. I think it worked out to around $180 (but only 70cl) by then-current exchange rates. Nursed it for probably two years. It was excellent.
If you like the old style, all-sherry-aged Macallan it will be right in your wheelhouse. $250 would be a steal these days. I'd certainly pick up another one if I saw it at that price.
Side by side I didn't find a large amount of difference between the 12 and 18. The 25, on the other hand, was worlds away. Very smooth and dark. If you ever run by the yamazaki distillery I'd recommend doing a very reasonably priced tasting of the 12, 18 and 25.
I would personally be very happy to spend $250 on bottles of Yamazaki 18. I understand that an 18-year Scotch would normally run the $120-160 range, but illogically I would scoop up every single bottle of Yamazaki 18 possible at the price you're seeing.
I do regret not purchasing the bottle of Yamazaki 18 I saw in a store a few years back tho. Impossible to find nowadays.