Ichiro’s Malt The Joker (Distilled At Hanyu), 57.7%, £220
At the time of writing, everyone is asking me about Japanese whisky, which is fantastic. Is it really good, Dave? Yes, I respond. I’ve been saying that for close on 20 
years and am happy to continue to do so. When you consider that Japanese distillers have been perfecting their craft for over 90 years, it would be more surprising if they weren’t making award-winning, world-class whisky. It’s good to see people getting the message.
This year’s choice is a tinged with sadness, because it marks the end of an era...
