Bought a cheap bottle of kakubin.
Terribly disappointing.
Any better Japanese whiskies?
The original Kakubin is a decent buy when you can get it for $40, but keep in mind it's pretty much Japan's Johnnie Walker Red. I don't mind having a bottle around to share liberally when I've got friends over. Kakubin 43 is absolutely shocking though. There's a huge number of great Japanese whiskies out there but they are generally massively over-priced. Prominent, well-known brands are Hibiki, Yamazaki and Hakushu and they're all good whiskies but if you spend the equivalent amount on a Scotch you'll be able to get something much better. Rather than spending $110-130 on Hibiki Harmony or Hakushu/Yamazaki Distillers Reserve I'd recommend picking up something like Kilchoman Machir Bay, Balvenie 14yr or Arbeg Uigaedail which are all amazing whiskies worth every cent.