Here we have Suntory’s multi award-winning Japanese single malt from Yamazaki, the oldest whisky distillery in Japan. The single malt was launched in 1992, and around 80% of the liquid is matured in sherry butts, while the remaining whisky spent its years in American and Mizunara oak casks. An absolutely stunning marriage of fruit, oak and smoky notes, it’s really no wonder why it won so many awards!
Truffles, thick bitter marmalade and resin. Potpourri and heavy Oloroso sherry.
A rich, bittersweet palate with heather roots, cigar leaves, honey, toffee apples, plum wine and black pepper. A touch of rancio, perhaps…
Long, fruity, marmalade-led finish.
I wrote the conversely-titled review earlier. I've changed my tune. My tasting notes are still essentially the same, but I've grown to appreciate them more. Just because it's so distinct. I'd think almost anyone would have go through this in stages like I did. At first it's just, eh, interesting, but is it *really* what I want? (And for *that* kind of money?) However after working my way through the whiskey world, there's just something about this that keeps drawing me back. It's like nothing else that I've ever tasted. Each nose, each sip, each swallow, is its own experience. Note the 12 is still excellent too, but in a completely different way.
this whiskey is the best 18yr ive tasted. but for the price old Pulteney 21 is better because it cost less with a better finish
you can do better for less money
Rev up your engine and enjoy to the fullest for this bottle will take your taste-buds on a ride that you don't want to stop. Really makes me enjoy Japanese whisky and how intrinsic they are to the whisky community. Malty, sultana, white grapes, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, brown sugar with a sherry oak flavor. Goes down smooth, no smoke and full of body. A+. Look forward to buying another bottle.
Was REALLY excited to get this as an Xmas gift. Love the Yamazaki 12, and given all the reviews/awards on this one I thought it must be "the one". Especially given how hard it is to find in the US, this was the best present I could have asked for. It's hard to say that this isn't good or even that it isn't phenomenal. It's perfect if it's what you want. It's old though. Some old book, old pipe resin there. Just enough, and perfectly done, to be a perfect malt if you like that kind of feel. Not so much that it overwhelms the other rich influences (like Bushmills does); just enough to say I'm *aged* and if you don't like it then that's *your* problem. So, that's that. For my money, I like a Mac 18 with its sherry feel or even a Auchentoshan 21 with its terrific vanilla smoothness but slight punch, a little more. Still, tasting side-by-side with the 12, I can get that they're related but this is way better; and I like the 12 a lot...so I'll probably keep one of these around, if I can keep finding it; maybe it's one of those things that needs to grow on you. (My first taste was 3 weeks ago).
