Scotland is the custodian of the finest whisky in the world, and the centre of the world when it comes to whisky brokerage, distilleries and the myriad of traditions that make this finest of drams so special.

Of course, whilst Scotch whisky is the best and most sought after in the world with prices to match at times, that is not to say that other countries do not also have interesting whisky traditions, particularly ones that have had a chance to mature and take on their own identity.

Triple distilled Irish whiskey was at one point the most popular spirit in the world and the United States has a wide diverse range of bourbon, rye, malt and wheat whiskeys, amongst many other varieties.

With that in mind, here are some of the most fascinating, unique or unusual whisky traditions outside of Scotland.

Japan

The oldest, most storied and most celebrated whisky tradition outside of the English-speaking world, Japanese whisky took nearly a century to get the appreciation it deserved.

Whilst the creation of whisky in Japan started as early as the 1870s, the genesis point for Japanese whisky began in 1923 with the establishment of the Yamazaki distillery by Shinjiro Torii, who quickly hired Masataka Taketsuru after his return from the Longmorn distillery in Scotland.

As with many other whisky traditions Japan has had its highs and lows, with blended whisky being particularly popular, a rather infamous “whisky war” in the 1950s and a peak in the 1980s before a decline domestically.

Its “Judgement of Paris” moment came in 2001 when Nikka distillery’s 10-year single malt Yoichi won the prestigious Best of the Best award from Whisky Magazine, and since then the prestige of Japanese whisky has leapt forward to such a degree that silent distilleries are reopening.

Canada

The United States’ northern neighbour having a whisky tradition is far from a surprise, but what makes it interesting is just how unique and different the house taste of Canadian whisky is.

Compared to Scotch, Canadian whisky is lighter, smoother and dominated by its rye flavour, with certain notes of caramel not unusual to find either.

India

Compared to Canada and Japan, India’s whisky market is much younger, but to say it is a rather unusual spirit with an eventful history would be a gross understatement, especially given that India is the most lucrative market for buying the spirit in the world.

Indian whisky is a somewhat unusual drink, primarily distilled from molasses blended with around 12 per cent malt whisky.

So unusual is Indian whisky that it is more likely to be classified as a rum anywhere else in the world, and this has led to controversy when it comes to navigating export laws and taxation.

Whilst the vast majority of Indian whisky is this unusual blended mix made for the domestic market, the single malt Amrut is a notable exception, gaining enthusiastic approval from famed whisky critic Jim Murray. 

Other Indian distilleries have since followed, and the country has one of the most unique and diverse markets with an increasing reputation for quality on the higher end of the market.