Yamazaki Distillery Exclusive - Whisky Review

Time for another dram!

A Peated Single Malt Japanese Whisky

A bit about

Yamazaki is Japan's oldest Whisky Distillery, established in 1923, located in the southwest of Kyoto, at the foot of Mt. Tennozan, in an area famous for its high-quality natural water.

The Yamazaki Distillery Exclusive was matured in Spanish Oak, is non-chill-filtered, with 48% ABV.

Time to try it!

Nose: Sweet with very pleasant peat, quite earthy, with oak, and a small amount of dark chocolate and spice

Palate: Rich, with chocolate, dried fruit, more oak and some nutty notes, all enveloped in a nice layer of peat

Finish: Medium, with lingering peat, dried fruit (prunes, currants and sultanas) and some cocoa/dark chocolate

Pros and Cons

For me, this one has significantly less peat on the nose compared to the palate, so I initially didn't know what to expect, but it does come out beautifully from the first sip and sticks around for a lovely and mellow finish.

In Conclusion

I picked up this bottle from Yamazaki Distillery during my most recent visit to Japan, where I paid the equivalent of somewhere around £20-30, as far as I can remember.

It's a delicious whisky, and I'm certainly glad I picked up a bottle, but I'm not sure I would actually pay the price asked on some auction sites, where you can find it for anything between £65 and £200.

I guess it depends on how curious you are and what your budget allows. In my case, I'm just looking for another excuse to go back to Japan and the Yamazaki Distillery and its Whisky Museum.  If you're visiting the distillery, please get this one; you won't regret it.

As always, please drink responsibly.

If you like this little review, please click on the little heart below and if you've tried this, I would love to hear what you think of it, in the comments below.

I hope life is treating you well.

Take care