Japan doesn't mess around when it comes to whiskey. The country has built a reputation for producing some of the finest spirits in the world, and its consumers have developed what many consider the most discerning palates on the planet. They're looking for balance, complexity, and that hard-to-define quality the Japanese call "umami" – a depth of flavor that goes beyond the basics. For American whiskey makers, cracking this market has been like trying to break through a brick wall with a toothpick.
Image credit: Beverly Spirits
But one American brand is doing exactly that. The Beverly High Rye, produced by Beverly Spirits, is making serious waves in Japan, a country where imported spirits typically struggle to gain traction against deeply rooted local preferences and sky-high standards.
The achievement is particularly noteworthy given Japan's whiskey culture. Japanese distillers have spent decades perfecting their craft, creating spirits that embody precision and restraint. For an American whiskey to earn shelf space and, more importantly, respect in this environment is no small feat. It requires something special – a product that can stand toe-to-toe with world-class competition.
Recognition From The Right Places
The Beverly High Rye didn't stumble into the Japanese market on luck alone. The whiskey arrived with an impressive roster of accolades already in hand. Forbes named it one of their "5 Must-Try Rye Whiskeys," while Rolling Stone crowned it the '2024 Best Rye Whiskey.' Those aren't the kind of endorsements that come easy.
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The Tasting Panel gave it 98 Points, a near-perfect score that speaks to the quality inside the bottle. Gold Medals from both the San Francisco and New York World Spirits Competitions added weight to its credentials. These competitions draw entries from around the globe, and winning gold at either one is significant. Winning at both suggests something exceptional.
Perhaps more telling than awards from critics, though, is where the whiskey has found a home behind the bar. Prestigious venues like Nobu, Ritz-Carlton, and Aman – which was named the world's 7th best hotel by The World's 50 Best – have all added The Beverly High Rye to their spirits programs. These establishments don't take chances with their beverage selections. They cater to clientele who know their spirits and expect nothing but the best.
When bartenders at top-tier venues consistently reach for a particular bottle, it says something about how that spirit performs in real-world conditions, not just in competition tasting rooms. It means the whiskey works in cocktails, holds up neat, and delivers an experience that keeps sophisticated drinkers coming back.
The Man Behind The Bottle
Andrew Borenzweig founded Beverly Spirits with a vision for creating American whiskeys that could compete on the global stage. Rather than building his own distillery from scratch – a process that can take years before producing anything worth drinking – Borenzweig took a different approach.
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He partnered with Cedar Ridge Distillery, a family-owned operation with a reputation for quality production. This collaboration allowed Borenzweig to hand-select specific barrels of straight rye and bourbon, carefully choosing stocks from Cedar Ridge itself as well as sourcing from Indiana, a state known for producing some of America's finest rye whiskey.
The final product uses a majority-rye grain bill, meaning rye is the dominant grain in the mash. This matters because rye brings a spiciness and complexity that bourbon, which must contain at least 51% corn, typically doesn't have. By blending straight rye with straight bourbon, Borenzweig created something that showcases the best of both styles – the spicy, assertive character of rye balanced with the sweeter, rounder notes of bourbon.
This blending approach isn't new to American whiskey, but executing it well requires skill and patience. Every barrel ages differently, even in the same warehouse. Finding barrels that complement each other, that bring out the best in one another rather than clashing, takes experience and a refined palate. The fact that the final product resonates with Japanese consumers suggests Borenzweig and his team got it right.
What's In The Glass
The Beverly High Rye delivers a specific flavor experience that sets it apart. Right away, the nose and palate present bright baking spices – the kind you'd associate with quality pastries or holiday desserts. Cinnamon leads the charge, followed by brown sugar and nutmeg. These aren't subtle hints buried in the background. They're upfront and assertive, announcing themselves clearly.
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The mouthfeel is described as rich, which in whiskey terms means it has body and weight on the tongue. This isn't a thin, watery spirit. It coats the mouth and delivers presence. Then comes what many consider the most important part of any whiskey – the finish. The Beverly High Rye closes with what the distillery calls a "smooth, velvet-blanketed finish full of caramel and toffee."
A good finish should linger without burning, leaving pleasant flavors that evolve and fade gradually rather than disappearing immediately or hanging on harshly. The caramel and toffee notes provide sweetness that balances the earlier spice, creating a complete experience from first sip to last taste.
The whiskey works across different serving styles. Neat, it shows off its full character and complexity – the way serious whiskey drinkers often prefer to evaluate a spirit. On the rocks, the melting ice gradually opens up different flavors and mellows the proof, making it more approachable for casual sipping. In cocktails, it provides a solid backbone that doesn't get lost when mixed with other ingredients, something bartenders value highly.
Why Japan Matters
Breaking into the Japanese whiskey market carries significance beyond just sales numbers. Japan has become a benchmark for quality in the spirits world. When Japanese consumers and critics embrace a product, it carries weight internationally.
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The Japanese approach to whiskey appreciation differs from American traditions. Where American whiskey culture often celebrates boldness and high proof, Japanese consumers tend to value subtlety and balance. They're looking for layers of flavor that reveal themselves gradually, not a blast of intensity that dominates everything else.
This preference for refinement and complexity mirrors broader Japanese aesthetic principles found in everything from cuisine to architecture. There's an emphasis on harmony, on different elements working together rather than competing for attention. A whiskey that succeeds in Japan typically possesses these qualities.
For The Beverly High Rye to gain traction there suggests the blend achieves that balance. The spice notes don't overwhelm the sweetness. The rye character doesn't bulldoze the bourbon influence. Everything works together, creating complexity without chaos.
The Broader Picture
The success of The Beverly High Rye in Japan reflects larger trends in American whiskey. For decades, bourbon dominated American whiskey production and exports. Rye whiskey, which was once the dominant American style in the 1800s, had faded into near-obscurity by the mid-20th century.
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The past twenty years have seen a rye renaissance. Bartenders rediscovered that rye makes better classic cocktails like Manhattans and Old Fashioneds. The spiciness cuts through sweet vermouth and balances the sugar in an Old Fashioned in ways that bourbon simply can't match. As cocktail culture exploded, so did demand for quality rye.
Premium rye whiskeys started appearing on shelves, and consumers began appreciating rye as a sipping spirit, not just a cocktail ingredient. The market expanded rapidly, creating space for new brands and products. The Beverly High Rye entered this environment at the right time, but timing alone doesn't guarantee success. Quality matters most, especially in competitive markets.
The whiskey's approach – blending rye and bourbon rather than producing a pure rye or pure bourbon – represents a particularly American innovation. While purists might argue for single styles, blending allows for greater complexity and balance. It's a pragmatic approach focused on the end result rather than adherence to traditional categories.
Looking Forward
The Beverly High Rye's reception in Japan opens doors for American craft spirits more broadly. It demonstrates that American producers can create products sophisticated enough to compete in the world's most demanding market. This matters as American distillers look to expand internationally and as global consumers become more adventurous in their spirits choices.
The whiskey industry continues evolving rapidly. New distilleries open regularly, experimental finishes and grain bills multiply, and consumers grow increasingly knowledgeable. Standing out in this crowded field requires more than just marketing. It requires liquid in the bottle that delivers on promises.
The Beverly High Rye appears to do exactly that. From its carefully selected barrels to its balanced flavor profile to its performance in prestigious venues, the whiskey backs up its accolades with substance. For American whiskey makers watching the Japanese market, it provides a blueprint – quality and balance can overcome cultural preferences and entrenched competition.
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For whiskey enthusiasts, it offers something worth seeking out. Whether enjoyed neat to appreciate its full character, on the rocks for a relaxed sipper, or in a well-crafted cocktail, The Beverly High Rye delivers an experience that justified its awards and its place behind bars at some of the world's finest establishments.
In a market that demands perfection, an American whiskey is holding its own. That's a story worth raising a glass to.
