Released in Spring 2014, this is one of two Distiller's Reserve single malt whiskies from Suntory in Japan. This single malt from the Yamazaki distillery is jam-packed with superb red berry notes, gained from the whisky being matured in Bordeaux wine casks and Sherry casks. It also features malt matured in Mizunara casks, adding subtle fragrant oak notes.
Classic Yamazaki strawberries and dried fruits with floral notes coming from the Mizunara cask whisky. Fragrant sandalwood and maybe coconut. Certainly a whisky where you could get lost in its nose!
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.
Vanilla lasts and lasts, with spicy but sweet cinnamon acting as a final flourish.
Top quality Japanese whisky, and excellent value too. Can't go wrong with this, really.
As as good as the hype would have you believe. It's still a very good whisky and something i would buy again. But i did not get much of the fruity tastes i expected. you can taste a faint trace of coconut, but only if you look real hard for it.
If this is "far cry of Yamazaki 12" as some describe it, then Yamazaki 12 well better be the nectar of gods. This one is amazing. If you try it in proper tasting glass, it's worth its price for the nose alone. Brilliant balance of fruit, nuts and oak (fruits are more apparent). Palate is sweet, a bit spicy with a little burn, but nothing to spoil the pleasure. Finish is long and smooth, with pleasant spice at the end. Truly delicious and definitely on the list of my favourites now.
Recommended by my friend.
rather disappointing. can't really taste what I should, it is rather flat with alcohol and oak, doesn't really improve with water, with (melting) ice dilutes too much. it just zastes like a cheap whisky. suntory is generally overpriced, this one especially. a 12yo glenfiddich for 30€ is better, and this is not a compliment. think, I will buy soda and try highballing it, which normally not my way of drinking whisky.
Strong alcohol smell, by added water & lift out the alcohol a very young whiskey . Sweet pear flavor, fresh not too long lasting end note.
