Your Guide to Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky

Get to know Suntory's Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky

Yamazaki is a single malt whisky produced at Suntory's Yamazaki distillery, made from barley malt and produced at a single distillery. Suntory had produced multiple whiskies before Yamazaki was released in 1984, including the Kakubin, Old and Royal whiskies. Yamazaki was Suntory's first attempt at a single malt whisky blended exclusively from Yamazaki Distillery's own malt whisky.

It took two years to complete Yamazaki, a process that involved discussions about what a Japanese single malt whisky should be, and the blending of countless barrels of original whisky at the distillery.

How to enjoy Yamazaki whisky

Yamazaki, a harmonious blend of a wide variety of malt whiskies, is made from carefully aged, high quality spirits, and can be enjoyed in multiple ways. Drinking on the rocks allows you to enjoy the change in flavor as the ice cube melts, and as the whisky gets colder, the flavor changes from delicate and complex to a more mellow taste.

If you are lucky enough to try the long-aged "Yamazaki 18 Years Old" or "Yamazaki 25 Years Old," we recommend drinking them straight. Yamazaki's mellow flavor also makes it the perfect match for dried fruits and chocolate, so be sure to give it a try.

When enjoyed with a meal, it is best drunk mixed with water. It pairs excellently with sushi and other Japanese dishes. Whereas a 1:1 ratio of whisky to water is ideal to appreciate the aroma of the whisky itself, a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio is perfect when enjoyed over a meal. Yamazaki can also be enjoyed as a highball, mixed with sparkling water. Whichever serving style you choose, you are sure to enjoy the high quality aroma that Yamazaki whisky provides.

Three special features of the Yamazaki Distillery

The Yamazaki Distillery was established in 1923 and is the oldest malt whisky distillery in Japan. It’s located in Osaka, a prefecture with a humid climate and land with favorable conditions for maturing whisky. Yamazaki uses a slightly harder variety of soft water, which produces a rich malt whisky with a complex flavor.

The Yamazaki distillery is characterized by the variety of methods used to create original whisky, and how it utilizes its unique location. After mixing and filtering the malt and water, the whisky is created through various methods used during the fermentation, distillation, and aging processes.

Using two different types of fermentation washbacks

Fermentation is an important stage in creating the complex flavor of the whisky. It’s a process where yeast is added to the wort, an ingredient made by filtering malt and water. The fermentation washbacks used at the Yamazaki Distillery are large containers made of two different materials, wood and stainless steel.

The wooden washbacks are said to provide a full-bodied taste, while the stainless steel washbacks create a floral flavor. Unlike stainless steel washbacks, which are easy to clean and produce the desired flavor, wooden washbacks require more attention as temperature control is more difficult. Despite this, the wooden washbacks are indispensable due to their excellent moisture retention, and the lactic acid bacteria and microorganisms which thrive in the washbacks and enhance the complex, rich flavor.

The final product varies depending on the distillery location and the ingredients used. Despite using the same wooden washbacks, whisky fermented in the Hakushu Distillery in Yamanashi Prefecture is fruity and smooth, whereas the whisky produced at the Yamazaki Distillery features a richer flavor. Not only this, but the shape of the washback, the temperature during fermentation, and the type of yeast used also affects the characteristics of the whisky, so the fermentation process is carried out with the final product (the aroma and flavor 10 or 20 years later) in mind.

Yamazaki Distillery's variety of pot stills

Once fermentation is complete, the next stage is distillation, a process where steam is generated in a pot still to strip the whisky of any undesired smells and flavors. In addition to the fermentation washbacks, the Yamazaki Distillery uses pot stills of different sizes and shapes, and utilizes different distillation and heating methods. It is rare for a distillery to have such a wide variety of pot stills.

The flavor can be altered from light to rich by changing the size and shape of the pot still. The Yamazaki Distillery increased the number of pot stills used in 2006, and these pot stills are replaced every few years. As these new pot stills become worn in we can expect to see new flavors of Yamazaki emerge.

Making and separating the unblended whisky

After fermentation and distillation is complete, the whisky is left to mature in casks in the warehouse. These casks hold the whisky for three, five or even ten years. They are often made from white oak, Spanish oak, or Mizunara oak. In addition to the cask material, the size of the cask, the temperature and humidity of the warehouse, and the number of years of storage all have an effect on the finished product.

In order to produce the best unblended whisky, each cask is thoroughly controlled, from selection of cask materials to construction and storage environment. Despite this, there are many unknowns about cask maturation which can affect the final product. There is no other option but to wait and see how it turns out. After cask maturation, the blended whisky is then left to mature further in order to produce a single malt whisky.

Yamazaki’s product lineup

Yamazaki, a single whisky blended using only original whisky matured at the Yamazaki Distillery, features a varied lineup of different blends. Each product in the lineup is made using a particular manufacturing process and maturation period, so despite being very popular (like the now discontinued "Yamazaki 10 Years Old,") they cannot be produced in large quantities.

The Yamazaki Distillery is famous for producing a wide range of products, including limited editions such as the "Yamazaki Mizunara," "Yamazaki Sherry Cask," and "Yamazaki Puncheon," as well as the long-matured range which caught much attention, such as the "Yamazaki 35 Years Old," "Yamazaki 50 Years Old," and the "Yamazaki 55 Years Old."

Read on to find out what products are currently available.

Yamazaki Single Malt

Yamazaki Single Malt, a whisky with no age statement, is a blend of young and unique original whiskies. At the time of its release in 2012, many whiskies were based on the age of maturation, however, Yamazaki Single Malt was created with the hope that people could enjoy whisky regardless of maturation period.

It uses various unblended whiskies, mainly those which are stored in Mizunara Oak casks and wine barrels. It has a floral and smooth, strawberry-like aroma which is a characteristic of wine barrel maturation, as well as a smooth sweetness derived from the Mizunara cask.

Yamazaki 12 Years Old

Yamazaki 12 Years Old is a blend of whiskies matured for at least 12 years. It’s characterized by a sweet vanilla and ripe fruity aroma that is unique to whisky aged in white oak casks. In addition to the Mizunara casks, the characteristics of matured sherry barrels are also utilized.

This creates a complex aroma and a delicate, deep flavor which leaves you wanting more. Yamazaki 12 Years Old, a delicate and elegant whisky, is thought to be one of Japan's leading single malt whiskies.

Yamazaki 18 Years Old

Yamazaki 18 Years Old is a blend of whiskies matured for at least 18 years in sherry barrels, then matured further to improve the flavor before being bottled. It has an aroma of dried fruits and chocolate, typical of whiskies stored in sherry barrels, and a deep flavor unique to whiskies matured in Mizunara casks. Among the Yamazaki whiskies, Yamazaki 18 Years Old is highly acclaimed worldwide and has received numerous awards.

Yamazaki 25 Years Old

Yamazaki 25 Years Old is a product limited to 1,000 bottles produced annually. It’s a blend of carefully selected whiskies matured in sherry barrels which have been aged for over 25 years. This dark reddish-brown whisky has a sweet aroma, typical of whiskies matured in sherry barrels. The scent is reminiscent of a mix of raisin and strawberry jam, along with bitter chocolate. The drink is thick and bitter with a complex, heavy aroma and rich aftertaste.

Where to buy Yamazaki whisky

Yamazaki whisky is so popular that even the distillery occasionally runs out of stock. Nowadays, it’s difficult to find not only the Yamazaki 12 Years Old and Yamazaki 18 Years Old, but also the Yamazaki Single Malt in stores.

While it’s sometimes available online, prices are often much higher than retail, so be cautious when buying online. You may also come across it at duty-free shops, liquor stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets in Japan.

Discover Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky

Yamazaki, crafted at Japan’s first whisky distillery, is a meticulously refined single malt developed by Suntory through years of research and tasting. The brand is highly sought after and sells out quickly, but if you can find it in Japan, it’s worth trying. Made from a range of unblended whiskies from the Yamazaki distillery, it’s versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways, offering a unique experience with each bottle.

If you can’t find any of the Yamazaki whiskies, you can still discover plenty of other Japanese whiskies. Head to WAmazing Shop and buy a large variety of Japanese whiskies tax-free. You can easily collect your order from special lockers at designated airports across Japan, as well as major train stations, and other places. 

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

*Consuming alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by Japanese law, and these regulations also apply to international visitors and foreign residents in Japan. Please enjoy alcohol responsibly and don’t drive after drinking. Please also check the alcohol import allowance of your country before bringing them back into your country.