Yamazaki 18 Year Old

Very nice, bit for the price is sooner buy multiple bottles of Glendronach 18yo.

8th November 2019

The best whisky Ive ever had. Nothing else compares.

28th October 2019

Best I have ever had

26th August 2019

Brilliant smooth

23rd March 2019

Excellent. A bit sharp on the tongue in the first few seconds but after that it is clear sailing!

It is available but at over double the price here. I purchased over 6 bottles at various prices but even the cheapest supplier is now doubling their prices which is a shame as they make difficult for many to enjoy!

15th August 2018

This is the best whiskey of all time

24th July 2018

Good not great

27th May 2018

This is one of the finest whiskys I've tasted, I generally keep several bottles of the 12 on hand but reserve the 18 for special occasions only. Mouthfeel is a rich and oily. The nose has hints of char, oak, fruit, caramel, vanilla and a spicy character one can likely attribute to the mizunara oak casks used during maturation. The palate continues in this fashion, but a nutty/malty character also emerges. The finish is sweet, with a notable fruity sherry influence, more malt, nuts, and hit of spicy oak. This is a rich whisky that can rightly be described as "luxurious". I've tried a number of single malts including many similarly aged Scotch single malts, and this ranks with the best. My only caveat would be the inflated price tag, which unfortunately seems to impact any age-statement Japanese whisky these days. That said, it's a cracking good dram and well worth trying if you run into it on the whiskey menu of an upscale bar.

15th March 2018

Lucked out and got it from Master of Malt, but so hard to find. One of the best Japanese whisky’s you can get your hands on if you’re lucky.

22nd February 2018

Big step up from the 12. One of my favorites!

22nd February 2018

Unimpressive, hot on the nose, and certainly not worth the price of admission. I have enjoyed a number of single malts with far more depth and character at a fraction of the cost. Moving on...

21st December 2017

A little bit better than 12, basic flavors are same but more round deep. A little bit smoother u will feel it. But i did not like only bitterness at the end it still in my mouth after 15 minutes, some may like small bitterness like from ipa beer. If i choose btw 12 and 18 its 18 definitely, its piece of Art.

7th December 2017

Excellent

15th November 2017

I've got to say .. it was very nice.

15th September 2017

VERY nice

10th September 2017

compare to jack, idk man, its like comparing to tap water and fiji/avian water, its like ouffff, u should try

5th September 2017

Very smooth taste

2nd September 2017

VERY NICE

2nd September 2017

Without a doubt the pinnacle of Japanese Whisky. Not the merest hint of Sulphur present and a nose and taste that takes me back to the finest of scotch I tasted in the 80's and 90's. Second only to The Macallan 30 Year Old Sherry Oak for Whisky Heaven.

7th June 2017

I remember when a bottle cost 100$ a few years ago before the mass started enjoying it. Now its too expensive. Aint worth it

9th December 2016

I've had Yamazaki 12 for years now. My wife and I just wrapped a 2 week vacation in Japan. While there I was lucky enough to stop in at the Suntory Yamazaki distillery. They let you sample Hibiki 21, Hakushu 18 and Yamazaki 18. Being on a budget I could only purchase one and I was going for the Hibiki 21. By far the best whiskey I have ever tasted. Unfortunately they were sold out. I hate to say that the Yamazaki 18 came in second but it's a good second. It has amazing flavors and is extremely smooth. The 700 ml bottle cost me 27,000 yen or around $240 US. Since I won't be going back to Japan any time soon this will only come out on special occasions.

27th November 2016

Shengus, man, shengus. Pure shanner of a dram.

26th November 2016

Lucky enough to have bought a couple of bottles when priced around £160.00, Only bring them out on special occasions. Best comparison i have come across so far is the Aultmore 2015 19yr but that is still not cheap at £200.00 a bottle.

14th November 2016

Ive been running after this since the first sip three years ago. Price has gone from around $200 to now $400, if you can find it. Ive had every 18 available and many 25's. Yamazaki 18 best by far, not even close. Dangerous dram indeed! Yamazaki 25 is just too expensive to try.

13th November 2016

By far the best whisky i have so far tried, and now my life becomes a search to find something as good that doesnt cost £400 a bottle as this now does. I have 2/3rds a bottle in my possession but scared to drink it as may never own another :( - if you've found anything as good please tell us what it is! A clear 10 out of ten, perfection in a glass for those lucky (or rich) enough to get their hands on it

8th November 2016

Superb👍

5th November 2016

Can't agree more with those comments below! Drank it with my whisky buddies they are surely impressed how easy, silky smooth and nutty. Finished 2 whole bottles that night :)

27th October 2016

One of the best single malt in the world. Problem is there seems to be limited supply!

3rd September 2016

Good. But just that. Not amazing. I've had better whiskies under $200.

22nd July 2016

Best whisky under $400 I've had. I paid way too much for this. At $215 I still say its very worth it. You cant buy this stuff for $215 anywhere though. Its got a hugh great Almond Vanilla and Caramel nose and Marshmellow and citrus peel mid-palate and solid finish. I will buy a second bottle as soon as its available.

8th July 2016

The Best Whisky in the World

26th June 2016

Perfectly describes in the description! A must have for anyone that enjoys single malt!

9th June 2016

Rum and raisin and something else lighter than that. Soft mouth feel. Utterly delicious and stimulating - lovely long finish.

11th April 2016

Had a little shot worth of this stuff and it was amazing. Smooth as silk.

7th April 2016

solid body.. extremely long finish.. must add some water to wake it some then gets so much more flavoraful beyond your expectation .. $349

6th April 2016

Friend defended for it and nownirs a question of pride. Want it at any cost

18th March 2016

Tried it in a local restaurant here in my hometown Jönköping. Weird they had THIS dram 3,5 cl for 135 SEK. Worth every penny oak meets fruit sublime.

15th March 2016

The very best that I've tried. Def. will be on the look out for it.

12th March 2016

Yamazaki is just the best whiskey.the taste, the smell, the fullness, the satisfaction its just undescribable

9th March 2016

Fantastic taste like a song on the palate grows on you gradually.

2nd March 2016

The first time I tried this I really couldn't see what the fuss was about. Too complex, way too much going on.
A few days later I went back and tried it again, and then again...and a splash of water really helped.
Nose - Japanese plum, apricot and banana
Palate - like a cricket bat of oak right between the eyes and then a rush of fruit
Finish - very long, more plum and apricot.
Really very very good.

14th February 2016

Delicious whiskey. Couldn't recommend it enough

10th February 2016

Can I request that you inform me when this whisky is available with you!

17th December 2015

I tried it at yamazaki distillery, its fantastic. Not cheap, but worth it!

13th November 2015

Spend the 50 bucks for a dram. Don't look back.

11th October 2015

you should get it.. won't regret it..

30th September 2015

or not? It's overpriced for what it is....

5th September 2015

I would love to agree with the comments here but on the 18 year I just cannot!
I had a double shot in an underground retro bar on the Midosuji side of Osaka station with perfect female company and ( maybe I stuck my nose in too far) was assaulted by the alcohol, making me regret my double for the price of a single purchase. The 18 year old grew on me but guess what?
For half the price and a sublime experience get hold of the Nikka 21 year old-it is a gem!
I'm not anti Suntory- far from it, the 25 year old Yamazaki is in my whisky dreams but the 18 year old....sorry, it doesn't move me enough.

5th September 2015

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.

19th August 2015

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

14th July 2015

you can do better for less money

22nd June 2015

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.

11th February 2015

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).

17th January 2015

I have had the opportunity to try many whiskeys across the world, including johnny walkers of all colors (including blue), but Yamasaki 18 is the smoothest, most perfectly balanced whiskey I have ever come across. Some people prefer more peaty finishes, more spice, more...something, but the Yamasaki is a literal distillation of Japanese Kaizen (refinement until perfection). Buy a bottle and keep it on the shelf to celebrate sublime moments in life. I just bought a new bottle to celebrate the birth of my son, and look forward to opening it in another 18 years.

11th January 2015

This is a great whisky and maybe I'm being to harsh saying that $230 is too much. The way its made, the sherry casks, with slight pete smoke, and the clean pure flavor that it produces are A+. That being said, I'd rather own a Macallan Ruby or a Macallan 18 for the price. If you're anything like I am and read these reviews, I'll tell you that I will always buy another Mac 12,18 Ruby, or Mac 25. I can't really live without them. I find myself reaching for this range of scotches 9 times out of 10 over the Yamazaki. All that said, this is a great dram, and I'll guarantee you'll like it. I'll even rate it 5 stars. However with all that said, if I were running from a burning building and I could only take one bottle of whisky in my collection, I'd leave this one behind and grab the Mac 18 instead.

12th November 2014

If anyone have only been drinking Single Malt Whisky from Scotland, give this a try soon. Chances are that you will be stuck and love this for a LONG time.

The way this whisky was made is so clean and can be drunk so effortless with a sweet scent that captivates you to just want to on drink it.

The next time you would have realized that the whole bottle is finished. Yes, it is that smooth and I will leave the tasting notes to each individual to experience it.

25th August 2014

First time buying whisky online, and very happy with the fast service at good value from this website.
Yamazaki 18 is a super single malt. A favourite.

14th August 2014

On the nose this has lots of burnt lemon like its been charred on a BBQ with some sweet sherry raisin and a touch of pepper.

On the palette is more burnt citrus fruit, but more like orange this time with some complex molasses and spice flavours on the finish. Some aniseed, cinnamon and nutmeg lingers on the finish.

An absolute belter of a whisky. Worth the punt if you can split the cost and share a bottle between some good friends.

26th June 2014

I recently tried eight Japanese whiskeys (for the first time) and narrowed it down to this one and the 21-year blended Hibiki. Same price, but I went with the Yamazaki will get the Hibiki next time. Both are among the best whiskeys I've EVER tried. And this is coming from a bourbon drinker.

25th June 2014

Recently came back trip from Japan. Tried the Yamazaki 12YO, 18YO and 25 YO at the Suntory Factory just outside of Osaka. Very distinct flavour and differences. 12YO is nice, but for the best value, smoothness and taste, 18YO on the rocks is my pick. Compared 18Y Yamazaki to 18YO McCallum, Yamazaki 18Y because of the smoothness and pleasant taste.

25YO for those with an acquired taste after a more intense oak/smoke favour.

My only regret is not bringing a few bottles back from japan. Australia doesn't sell/have 18YO Yamazaki readily available here. Hope this helps!

8th May 2014

This is the first Japanese single malt I experienced, and it is quite smooth and pleasant in taste.

19th April 2014

Just returned from a motorcycle trip around Japan (Honshu, Kyushu and Shokuku). We needed to burn some spare Yen at Haneda Airport, so I bought a bottle of the Yamazaki 18 year at Duty Free. Can't wait to try it.

14th April 2014

I tried this for the first time over the weekend (1/25) and all I can say is Holy Cow! I've heard about the Japanese whiskies, but never had a chance to sample one. The flavors of vanilla, smoke, chocolate, sherry, oak and honey. I passed my glass to my friend and she refused to give my glass back...and she doesn't drink whisky! I'm buying a bottle as soon as I can get my hands on one.

28th January 2014

Absolutely phenom!!! Big oak, nice finish!

15th January 2014

Color: Dark Amber
Nose: Rich in oak. I pick up both the sherry casks and herbal notes from the Japanese oak.
Palate: Very rich and complex. Notes of chocolate, licorice and fruit.
Finish: Quite long.

1st January 2014

This and the Aussie 'Limeburner' would be the best whiskies I've tasted.

15th December 2013

only ever had the chance to have one bottle of this brill dram because of the price. best ive ever had

13th October 2013

a taste of heaven. Tones of raisins and vanilla. very rich flavour

19th September 2013

so smooth and complex, brilliant

21st July 2013

This has to be my favourite. Absolutely fun to the nose, and pleasant on the taste as well. Would definitely recommend this.

3rd July 2013

goin on

11th February 2013

I'm new to Japanese whiskies but this was fantastic, easily my current favorite. My first bottle is almost done and there are 2 on standby. So good it's the type of dram you want a case of just in case they stop making it. Full of flavor, complexity and will probably please most serious Scotch drinkers.

6th February 2013

I only had a dram of this remarkable whiskey, but simply put it is unique,
the nose on this will make you feel very excited
the japanese have nailed this craft
the obsession with their whiskey has begun

19th January 2013

Smooth, decadent and intense. With everyting you can hpe for in an 18 yo single malt. This is one of the best whiskies I have tried!

27th December 2012

Both the Yamazaki 18 Year Old and the Bufallo Trace they both have notes of rum which is just great

27th November 2012

Im no whisky expert and bought the Yamazaki 18 as a punt due to its great reviews and the fact i had never tasted a JP whisky before.After tasting it i came to the conclusion that it was a very good whisky.First impressions were a rich floral sherry bouquet ,sweet, woody smooth/balanced/very rounded.After finishing it though i would probs not buy again due to its high price point.Well i have just bought a bottle of Buffalo Trace(old bottling) and after opening the bottle and pouring a glass and noticed instantly that this is similar to the bouquet of the Yamazaki 18 with its floral,honey,sherry aroma.Taste wise its very similar but with more burn and spice which probably is due to its higher ABV at 45% and spices added.This bourbon is just great and believe me if you liked the Yamazaki 18 its a no brainer.The Yamazaki 18 is smoother and more complex in all areas but for the price the Buffalo trace is a clear winner at 55 pounds for 1.75 L.

27th November 2012

This is by far the best whisky I have tasted for a long time, I feel bad saying this as I am Scottish, but you know what - they have got it right.
As soon as you smell this whisky, you say to yourself oh boy this gonna be good.
Going to buy a full bottle next month for sure.

29th October 2012

Great sherried (but not overly) smooth and easy drinking whisky. Getting on the pricey side these days - but price aside,it's delicious. Only problem is its moreishness and easy drinking can lead to slightly overdoing it...

9th October 2012

I disagree with the below comment, the Yamazaki 18 year old is not heavily peated. A lovely dram though, with lots going on!

21st September 2012

The Whisky is extremely peated, not my taste, but very smooth, I can see why others like it, it has a very long finish and is otherwise very nice, but very peated.

20th September 2012

Much darker and oakier than the 10 and 12 year old Yamazakis, but not at all bitter (unlike some other old dark whiskies I've tried)

2nd September 2012

Simply put, a fabulous whiskey. Well worth the price.

9th July 2012

One of my fave whiskeys.
It is intensely sherry but also incredibly complex and shifting between sips.
Sometimes i can get an incredible aged parchment dry finish, other times it seems like im drinking liquid christmas pudding.
All in all a positively schizophrenic whiskey but absolutely blinding.

6th January 2012

Quite different to the Scottish drams I've been getting used to but doesn't suffer for that. Lots of depth to the flavours, they come at you in very distinct waves...very tricky to describe but not encountered anything quite like it in the Islay/Speyside single malts I've tried so far and would happily recommend this to anyone

15th December 2011

Managed to pick up a bottle from Birmingham Airport Duty Free for £32. Fantastic find and easily worth double the price.

Incredibly balanced flavour.

15th March 2011

What?! No 5 star reviews? Very much time for one. This is my favorite whiskey. Not only a paragon of Japanese whiskey, but a paragon of whiskey period. I wish it were cheaper, but such is life. I have tried and enjoy many whiskeys, but this is definitely my number 1.

26th February 2011

I must say this fantastic whiskey took me by surprise. A must try indeed.

4th January 2011

A great single malt and will surprise any whisky enthusiast, well done Suntory. Jim

29th September 2010

One of the best examples of Japanese Whisky I've ever tasted. Definitely worth a purchase or two.

Nic

11th June 2010

Awesome!

16th February 2010