Yamazaki 12 Year Old

Established in 1923 in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Yamazaki is Japan's first and oldest malt whisky distillery and the foundation of Suntory's whisky heritage. Nestled at the confluence of three rivers in a region long celebrated for the quality of its water, the distillery benefits from a humid, mist-laden microclimate and draws on a remarkable breadth of cask types and distillation techniques to craft its signature layered style.

The Yamazaki 12 Year Old is the distillery's classic age statement expression, built from carefully selected components aged in American, Spanish and Japanese Mizunara oak. Mizunara, a rare and prized Japanese oak, is notoriously difficult to work with but imparts an unmistakable aromatic complexity found nowhere else in whisky production. The expression has been recognised with Gold Medals at the International Spirits Challenge in both 2025 and 2026, affirming its standing as one of the world's most consistently celebrated single malts.

Tasting Note by Suntory:
Nose: Peach, pineapple, grapefruit, clove, candied orange, vanilla, Mizunara (Japanese oak).
Palate: Coconut, cranberry, butter.
Finish: Sweet ginger, cinnamon, long finish.