The Yamazaki 12 Year Old Suntory Pure Malt Whisky
Yamazaki Distillery, the oldest distillery in Japan, is almost synonymous with Japanese whisky. This is, in part, thanks to the popularity of the Yamazaki 12 Year Old, the longest-standing single malt expression in Yamazaki’s core range.
The Yamazaki 12 Year Old was first marketed in 1984. Prior to this, the distillery had been producing blended Japanese whisky. The effort was fronted by Keizo Saji, the son of Yamazaki‘s founder, Shinjiro Torii. Saji also designed the label for the Yamazaki 12 Year Old, which remains mostly unchanged today.
The 12 Year Old proved immensely popular and soon the distillery had expanded its capacity and begun releasing higher age statements. Today, Yamazaki’s core range includes an 18 year old and a 25 year old.
Despite Yamazaki’s rise in global popularity and price (and the noticeable decline in the presence of age statements for Japanese whisky) the Yamazaki 12 Year Old remains a steadfast presence in the brand’s core range.
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This particular whisky was bottled prior to 2004, when the presence of the ‘Yamazaki’ name became more prominent on the label.
A Brief History of Yamazaki Distillery
The Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first and oldest whisky distillery, was founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Suntory. Located at the confluence of three rivers in Osaka Prefecture, this site was chosen for its exceptional water quality, a crucial element in whisky production. Inspired by traditional Scottish distilling techniques, Torii aimed to create a uniquely Japanese whisky that could rival the finest Scotch whiskies.
Yamazaki rapidly gained acclaim for its delicate, smooth, and complex single malts, which incorporate diverse local ingredients and meticulous craftsmanship. The distillery’s signature expression, Yamazaki Single Malt, showcases subtle fruity notes and a refined balance, earning global recognition. Notably, Yamazaki’s Sherry Cask 2013 was named the world’s best whisky in 2015, marking a significant milestone in Japan’s whisky industry and highlighting the distillery’s pioneering role in shaping the global perception of Japanese whisky.
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In 2020, the Yamazaki 55 Year Old (the distillery’s oldest expression) broke records when it achieved a staggering hammer price of just under $800,000.
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