The Japanese whisky industry is booming, sadly, so is, the market for counterfeit bottles. Fake Japanese whisky is flooding the market for years. Now, think is the Hakushu Whiskey you have on the shelf is the real deal? Think again. Here, let this guide help you on how to spot the difference between real and fake.
1. Pay attention to the label.
Start by looking at the label. There you can tell from the print quality, text resolution, colour, and graphics if what you have is a genuine Japanese whisky or not. Also, do not forget to compare it with an original to find out the difference.
2. Check the bottle cap seal.
Another way to tell if the Hakushu Whiskey is genuine is by checking if has a foil or plastic seal. It should be neat and uniform, and the plastic wrap around the glass stopper neck should have the word ‘Suntory Whisky” in straight and embossed text.
3. Consider the colours of the liquid.
Usually, Japanese whisky is brown and sometimes darker as it spends years in a barrel. If you can not decide which Japanese whisky you should buy in an online shop, then you should ask the seller for some photographs, it will help you check the colours of the liquid.
4. Check the fill levels.
Remember, most counterfeit bottles have higher fill levels than genuine ones, but not always, sometimes, fakers get the fill levels rights.
5. Look for “floaty bits”.
Before you can buy any whisky bottle online in Singapore, you should also ask the seller to shake up the bottle, so you can see if there are some floaty bits. Don’t worry, these bits harmless. However, that’s an indication of the age of the bottle and not the age of the whiskey itself.
If you are looking for authentic Hashuku Whiskey, feel free to buy from Wines N Spirits. They offer free delivery for orders over S$100.
