I've been collecting whiskeys for more than a third of a century.  Began when I took trips throughout the World from the 1980's.  I must still have a dozen bottles still in the original cardboard box, mostly from Japan.  Below are some of them.  One is in a wooden box, Royal Lochnager.  A  36-year old bottle of this scotch is today sold for $4774 . Another is Korean Bulhui folk liquor.  Not sure what it is.  It could well cost only $10, but don't know. Another is almost as mysterious.  Rokubee in a ceramic bootle made by Nikka , which costs $430/bottle. Something more traditional, Royal Salute 21-years old blended whiskey, produced by Chivas, and costs $235. I'd swear I bought this Nikka Yoichi 20-year old for around $100, if not less.  Cost today?   $3765!! Some think that it was the 15-year old that broke the ice in 2001.  Not true, but it did garner  2009 and 2020 Gold Medals .  Costs more than $1000.  But  it was the 10-year old  Nikka Single Cask Yoichi that broke

Any excuse to drink some whisky, but, honestly, today is International Whisky Day .  In the spirit of March Madness, Dekanta listed 64 of the best Japanese Whiskies, with the winner to be crowned on April 1.   Vote here . Here are a couple whiskies you can buy from Dekanta: Or, if you want something more celebratory: Then again, here is a perfectly drinkable cheapie: Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky $ 29.99  "Toki' means time in Japanese. And Suntory's Toki Whisky is a tribute to that. Its a blend of whiskies of varying ages from Suntory's three main distilleries - Hakushu, Yamazaki and  Chita. The pairing of Hakushu  American white oak cask malt whisky with  Chita heavy-type grain whisky,  together with select Yamazaki malts to lend additional depth and  complexity, gives Toki  a silky taste and  vivid character. 86 proof.  TASTING NOTES: Color: clear gold  Nose: basil, green apple, honey  Palate: grapefruit, green grapes, peppermint, thyme.  Finish: subtly sweet and spic