Whiskey market expands

Japanese whiskey is becoming a more-favored tipple.

Shipments of the product rose for the first time in over a decade last year.

Figures show that shipments increased 10.3 percent from 2008, the first year-on-year increase in 11 years. It was the first double-digit increase since 1983, which marked the peak of Japan's whiskey boom.

Exports to the U.S. and European markets are also booming. Some Japanese products, including Suntory Liquors Ltd.'s Hibiki brand and Asahi Breweries Ltd.'s Taketsuru brand, have won top awards in international competitions.

Suntory's exports hit 106,000 cases last year, an increase of 17 percent from 2008. Asahi Breweries, which has Nikka Whisky Distilling Co. as a subsidiary, saw an 11-percent increase in exports to Europe. The company plans to export 25,000 cases this year, up 40 percent from 2009.