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The whisky that put Japanese single malt on the world map, the Yamazaki 12 is Suntory's benchmark expression and one of the most decorated Japanese whiskies ever made. First released in the mid-1980s from Yamazaki — Japan's first and oldest malt distillery, established in 1923 at the confluence of three rivers near Kyoto — it is matured across three distinct oak types: American ex-bourbon barrels, Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and Japanese Mizunara. This interplay of woods is the heart of the Yamazaki style, layering ripe fruit and vanilla sweetness with the unmistakable incense-and-sandalwood signature that only Mizunara can provide.
Elegant, polished and effortlessly drinkable, the Yamazaki 12 favours nuance and refinement over power — a soft, fragrant malt with a maturity that belies its age. Named Supreme Champion Spirit at the 2024 International Spirits Challenge and increasingly scarce as Japanese stock tightens, it remains the definitive introduction to aged Japanese single malt and a cornerstone of any serious collection.
Tasting Notes
The nose is a fragrant medley of ripe orchard and stone fruit — plum, apricot, peach and green muscat — lifted by honey, vanilla and a floral, herbal-tea quality, with sandalwood and dried fruit emerging from the sherry and Mizunara casks. The palate is silky and gently sweet, offering yellow plum, peach and apricot over vanilla cream, malt, toasted hazelnut and a touch of coconut, all carried on a bright, lemonade-like sweetness. The finish is medium and pristine, closing with honey, soft oak tannins, pine nuts, gentle spice and the faintest hint of woodsmoke.
Serves Best With
Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water in a tulip glass to coax out the fruit and Mizunara aromatics. It makes a superb premium highball — 45ml over ice topped with chilled soda water and a twist of lemon — or an elegant Japanese Old Fashioned. On the table, pair with sushi and sashimi, grilled white fish, tempura, soft cheeses, or lighter fruit-based desserts, where its refined, fragrant character complements rather than overwhelms.
