Japanese Whisky and Its Prices in 1985

Hello, I am the owner of Antique Liquor. Like many of you, I am an enthusiast who loves old bottle whisky. In my extensive research on vintage spirits, I often encounter mysterious, unidentified whiskies. Among these old bottles, there are hidden gems that offer incredible performance for their current trading prices, making the search feel like a true treasure hunt.

To find such treasure whiskies, it is effective to look for information from the time of their release, such as the original price and product descriptions. However, during the 1960s to the 1990s, when these old whiskies were in circulation, information was not recorded on the internet. Consequently, data on old bottle whiskies is extremely scarce. It feels as though there is even less information available for Japanese vintage whisky compared to Scotch, which has a longer history and a broader global market.

Below, I am sharing information on Japanese whiskies distributed in the early 1980s. By comparing the selling prices of that era, we can infer the quality levels and positioning intended by the whisky makers of the time.

SUNTORY THE WHISKY (50,000 yen)

An ultra-luxury product created by concentrating the company's historical heritage and technical expertise. It was meticulously selected from over 1.6 million barrels of malt spirit, and the blending process alone reportedly took six months.

SUNTORY 1899 (30,000 yen)

Japanese whisky history began in 1899 when Kotobukiya, the predecessor of Suntory, was founded. This limited edition was produced to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Yamazaki Distillery in Kyoto.

 

SUNTORY IMPERIAL (15,000 yen)

Released in 1964 to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics, it caused a sensation as a 10,000 yen whisky—an astronomical price at the time. While the bottles were manufactured by Kagami Crystal in Japan, it is interesting to note that some records describe them as hand-blown crystal from Bohemia Glass.

SUNTORY PURE MALT WHISKU YAMAZAKI (10,000 yen)

A new product at the time, featuring 100% Yamazaki malt spirit, which was rare back then. This is the origin of Yamazaki whisky. Compared to current versions, its flavor and aroma are significantly more concentrated, characterized by a profound sense of maturation.

 

SUNTORY ROYAL (round bottle 4,500 yen, square bottle 5,000 yen, barrel 20,000 yen)

Released in 1960 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Kotobukiya. It is said that the founder, Shinjiro Torii, poured all his skill and experience into this blend. The elegant and beautiful flavor, crafted by skillfully blending malt spirits from a vast number of barrels, is considered Torii's masterpiece. Note that the barrel-shaped bottle (1800ml) is not an actual oak barrel, so maturation does not continue inside.

 

SUNTORY KAKU (2,750 yen)

Originally released in 1937 as Suntory Whisky 12 Years Old. Over time, it came to be affectionately called Kakubin (Square Bottle), and it has an interesting history where that nickname eventually became its official name.

SUNTORY 21 (2,330 yen)

A name representing the momentum and spirit of Suntory as it charged toward the 21st century. With the alcohol content kept at 40%, its light and delicate flavor was considered perfect for women. It was famously recommended to be paired with Perrier, the natural sparkling water from France.

 

SUNTORY OLD (Daruma bottle 3,170 yen, barrel-shaped bottle 3,300 yen, Ushi-sai bottle 5,000 yen)

Commonly known as Daruma or Tanuki, this whisky pairs exceptionally well with Japanese cuisine. First trial-released in 1940 and officially relaunched in 1950. It uses a large proportion of sherry cask-matured malt spirit from the Yamazaki Distillery. It is highly regarded as a Japanese whisky that retains its flavor even when served with hot water (Oyuwari) or soda (Highball).

 

MILD NIKKA

A whisky released by Nikka in 1983, leaning into a soft profile to match the trend for lighter flavors at the time. It pursued the limits of mildness by using a re-casking method, where the spirit is matured again in barrels after blending.

WHITE OAK RESERVE

Crafted using only pure malt whiskies that have been double-distilled and aged for 8 years, resulting in a fine spirit with a rich aroma and a long-lasting finish.

 

SUPER NIKKA (Crystal round bottle 3,570 yen, White Cow ceramic bottle 5,000 yen, Famous painting ceramic bottle 5,000 yen)

Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru as Dai Nippon Kaju. Super Nikka is credited as the product that rapidly expanded Nikka's fan base across Japan.

NIKKA TSURU (15,000 yen)

Released in 1976. A prestige whisky representing the culmination of Nikka’s technology. Named after the founder Masataka Taketsuru (using the character for Crane), it is hailed as Nikka's masterpiece.

NIKKA FORTUNE `80 (10,000 yen)

Released in 1981, this whisky is characterized by its remarkable mildness.

NIKKA G&G / Nikka G&G black bottle (3,020 yen), Nikka G&G white bottle (3,170 yen)

A masterpiece that pursued authentic quality by blending spirits from Scotland, the birthplace of whisky. The Black Bottle uses Lowland malt for a mild and smooth character, while the White Bottle uses Highland malt to draw out a robust and heavy flavor.

NIKKA PURE MALT BLACK & RED / Nikka Pure Malt Black Label & Red Label

A new product at the time made from 100% malt spirit. While the exact composition was not disclosed, rumors suggest the Black Label is a blend of Yoichi whisky and Highland malt, while the Red Label blends Miyagikyo and Lowland spirits. Black is characterized by a heavy flavor, and Red by its light, floral notes. Consumers were encouraged to blend the two themselves to create a personalized flavor.

 

OCEAN KARUIZAWA (15,000 yen)

In 1976, Japan's first Special Grade single malt whisky was released in limited quantities. The Karuizawa region is considered ideal for whisky making due to its fog, humidity, and cold climate. Its oak cask aroma was evaluated as being on par with the world's finest whiskies. Unusually for that era, it was recommended to be served straight.

OCEAN ASAMA (10,000 yen)

The highest-quality blended whisky next to Ocean Karuizawa, with a limited annual production of 30,000 bottles.

 

OCEAN STATUS (5,000 yen)

Inheriting the lineage of Karuizawa and Asama, this blend uses long-matured Karuizawa malt spirits. It is a masterpiece with a superb balance of richness and mellowness, projecting the image of a sophisticated adult.

OCEAN SPECIAL OLD (3,170 yen)

Released in 1965, this is the most popular and classic expression within the Ocean Whisky lineup.

I hope this information on representative Japanese whiskies from the 1980s serves as a valuable reference for your old bottle selection.

Source: Meishu Graffiti THE WHISKY - Amber World Catalog - Shinchosha, 1985