Whisky Debates: Scotch vs Japanese – which is the best investment if you are a collector?
Macallan or Karuizawa? Dalmore or Yamazaki? In the second part of the STYLE series, we assess which of the two leading whisky categories to pursue for investment and profit
In the latest edition of STYLE’s Whisky Debates, we pit Scotch against Japanese whisky. For those looking at whisky as an investment, these two have been the leading categories for ages. Bourbon is popular in the United States, however, it hasn’t made a huge impact across the globe in terms of record-breaking prices.
When focusing on collecting and investment, one question always comes up – which of the two leading categories should a collector pursue for investment?
Scotch whisky
Macallan 1926, a Scotch, holds the world record of US$1.9 million for the most expensive whisky bottle ever sold at auction – at Sotheby’s in London in October 2019.
With Macallan at the forefront, Scotch whisky leads the global fine and rare whisky market with other highly collectible brands such as Bowmore, Dalmore, Springbank and Port Ellen. For years, headlines were regularly made with bottles selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and appreciating continuously in value. Scotch whisky has shown steady growth in the rare and aged category, with steep as well as slow rises.
Regular rare whisky releases by the Scotch industry as a whole have also contributed to its popularity, such as the new Dalmore 51-Year-Old, two rare Rosebank single cask bottlings launched in February along with many other new products. This stream of new releases keeps interest firmly focused on Scotch.
Japanese whisky
Unlike Scotch, Japanese whisky suddenly burst onto the scene. However, the closure of the famed Karuizawa distillery led to most expressions becoming rare. Years later, Karuizawa single casks bottlings began rising in auctions while Yamazaki, Nikka and Hibiki grew amid aged stock shortages that remain to this day.