Japanese Whisky

Whisky Review: Yamazaki 12 Year Old Suntory Pure Malt Whisky

The Yamazaki 12 Year Old remains a steadfast presence in the brand's core range. 

OVERALL RATING

6
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Tasting Notes

About:

Possibly the first Japanese single malt whisky seriously marketed to a worldwide audience, the Yamazaki 12 Year Old was first available in 1984 – since then gaining a cult following.
Appearance:
Pale Amber
Nose:
Quite a mixture here, plenty of fruits notably orange, apple, pineapple, and grapefruit are balanced against a woody, earthy root aspect. Throughout there’s a very aromatic grassy and well-defined floral note – reminds me of jasmine tea.
Palate:
Very smooth drinking, light and slightly oily. Lots of tropical fruits, apricots, bananas, coconut, and pineapple. Hold on the tongue to get a hit of cinnamon spice.
Finish:
Short to medium, there’s a hint of tropical fruit salad sweets and citrus zest, this doesn’t linger before quickly drying.
Comments:
Very aromatic whisky, smooth and light with plenty of fruit notes. This Yamazaki 12-Year-Old is a great introduction to Japanese whisky. Arguably it’s probably close to a score of 7, but for me just falls short – I would probably increase for a slightly higher percentage bottling / or a less ‘blink and you’ll miss it finish’.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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