World

Whisky Review: Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection – Puncheon

We review Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection Puncheon, selected Japanese malts aged exclusively in 480 liter puncheons crafted from hand-selected American oak.

OVERALL RATING

10
Like Conversation
Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection Puncheon

Tasting Notes

About:

The suggested retail price is $450, ABV of 48%.
Appearance:
pale straw, very light almost yellow.
Nose:
this slowly but distinctly fills the room. Green apples, fresh pears, spring flowers escape from the glass. As you nose the glass you find chardonnay with a soft touch of alcohol. Right at the end of the nose there is the faintest hint of peat smoke.
Palate:
I’m surprised with the first note – it’s peat. The mouthfeel is round and envelops the palate. The sweetness of the grain comes forward with dry pecans. It is overall extremely delicate and soft, the notes are present but play nicely with one another. They evolve over the tongue and through the finish. The sip just sits nicely in your mouth and fades gradually over a minute or so.
Finish:
Comments:
This is the first of the four. This is setting the bar very high for the others, but I expect this series wasn’t released because Suntory felt the whisky wasn’t up to the task. I am partial to the subtlety here. The fruit notes are balanced cleanly with the peat flavor and the oak barrel. Just a clean, excellent dram of whisky. The tragedy of this whisky is you’ll never find it at suggested retail price. Most retail sales are in the couple thousand dollar mark.

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.

Charles Steele

Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.

All Posts

Latest On The Whiskey Wash