Yamazaki Distillery Reserve Single Malt Whisky, 70cl

Product Information

The rapid growth of the Japanese whisky industry in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. Now with more space to explore, access to new areas for in-person tours and modern design features, the distillery brings visitors face-to-face with the nature and artistry that goes into crafting our fine whiskies.

Tenno in the rural town of Yamazaki, in Shimamoto, Osaka, where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers converge. This Yamazaki Mizunara Single Malt is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies all aged for a minimum of 18 years in solely Mizunara casks, created in honor of Suntory Whisky's centenary. Has got a nice sweet alcohol smell with a light colour taste very strong but not to strong to drink with ice smooth sweet spice heat that really goes down nice and leaves you with a warm nice feeling. As Motoyama says: “By promoting the craftsmanship and variety of malt whiskies produced at Yamazaki Distillery, and through the release of limited edition products, we hope to strengthen the value of the Yamazaki brand in Japan and globally, and establish it as the highest-quality single malt in the world. I highly recommend this whisky, it's a great choice for those who want to experience something special in their glass.Yamazaki was born from the surprising, delicate yet profound experience of a Japanese single malt whisky. Enjoy the rich aroma of vanilla and the mellow, lingering aftertaste that arises from the toasted casks. Another NAS bottling from Yamazaki shot to fame in 2014 when it was bestowed with a coveted accolade. The diversity of this region’s temperature and humidity creates ideal conditions for cask aging, known as the signature "Suntory Maturation".

Trace the timeline of Japanese whisky’s success and it becomes clear that there was one distillery that started it all – Yamazaki.

Palate: The dried berries remain lively on the palate (it even develops some raspberry notes along the way), but they're dialled back a bit to make room for light oak, white peach and a small amount of spice. Home to Sen no Rikyu, Master of "The Way of Tea” and his renowned "Rikyu no Mizu" (water of the imperial villa), the waters of Yamazaki were selected by the Ministry of Environment as one of Japan's one hundred best natural mineral waters. Enjoy two possible options: the "Yamazaki Whisky Museum viewing (no viewing of production process/ Free)" and the "Yamazaki Distillery Tour (Paid)," including a tour of the distillery itself as well as whisky tasting.

Nestled proudly on the periphery of Kyoto, the area around Yamazaki Distillery has been long referred to as “Minaseno” famous for its exquisite natural water, even mentioned in the Man'yoshu, the ancient anthology of Japanese poetry. Suntory Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve whisky has been matured in Bordeaux wine casks and Sherry casks.

Made at Yamazaki Distillery, the birthplace of Japanese whisky, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world. But neat, although good, they’re a little bit coarser, with the Yamazaki in particular, a bit raw out of both. The Yamazaki 12 Years Old Single Malt is comprised of meticulously selected malt whiskies all cask-aged aged for a minimum of 12 years.

The area is famed for its misty climate and soft waters – so much so that Sen no Rikyu, master of the Japanese tea ceremony, set up his teahouse in Yamazaki. He oversaw the build of the Hakushu and Chita distilleries in the 1970s, paving the way for more experimental blends.

We take great pride in our innovative craftsmanship and the large variety of malt whiskies produced at Yamazaki Distillery, a rarity in the world of whiskies,” he says. Despite this focus on NAS single malt, Shinji Fukuyo, chief blender at Suntory, says age is still an “important factor” to determine whisky’s value. The Yamazaki is spicier, sweeter, but thinner, with flavours of caramel that were absent in the Hakushu.