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Want to dive into Japanese whisky? Then start with Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve

This core bottling from Japan’s oldest whisky maker is a dominant player in one of the world’s most valuable whisky landscapes

The rise of Japanese whisky didn’t happen by chance. The country of its birth is well-known for the pursuit of excellence. The first thing any visitor to the country will notice is how perfectly the country is run, from trains arriving to the second they are scheduled, to the shape and weight of individual portions of food. Everything is exact. 

And so it is when the country’s whisky makers decided to embark on their journey. Japanese whisky is here to stay, and it currently lives at the top of the international whisky food chain. And the distillery that sits at the Japanese top table? Yamazaki, Japan’s oldest. 

How old is Yamazaki Distillery?
Yamazaki was the first commercial Japanese malt whisky distillery. This gives it a badge of honour that it wears with pride. It opened in 1923 and used the Scottish tradition of producing whisky as its blueprint for growth. Its first distillery manager, Taketsuru Masataka, travelled to Scotland in 1918 and attended Glasgow University to learn how to make Scottish whisky. This was at a time when Japan was still a very closed society and international travel for leisure was almost unheard of. On his return, Yamazaki’s founder, Torii Shinjirō, appointed him factory director for Yamazaki in 1924. 

Who owns Yamazaki today?
Today, Yamazaki is owned by Suntory, the world’s third-largest spirits owner. Suntory is a massive operation that also owns Beam, one of the largest US bourbon producers. But it’s the attention it places on its smaller Japanese brands that reveal its true intentions – as well as Yamazaki, it owns the Japanese whisky brands of Hibiki, Hakushu, Chita and Kakubin whisky. Together, these brands represent the very best of Japanese whisky.

Where does Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve sit in its lineup?

Distiller’s Reserve was first released in 2014. A popular single malt, it’s matured in a combination of Bordeaux wine casks, sherry casks and Mizunara oak. It’s a 43% non-age statement release but is said to have whisky aged around 8-10 years between its caskings.

One of the things that makes Yamazaki stand out is that it is a very carefully curated brand. This is not a producer that floods the world with multiple releases – it maintains its sense of calm and coordination with a range of whiskies that is concise and maintains respect through its simplicity. 

The Distiller’s Reserve is one of four core bottles in the Yamazaki range, as well as a series of limited edition and once-off bottlings. For many, this allows Distiller’s Reserve to be the beginning of a quality whisky journey and one that leads all the way to Yamazaki 55, the outstandingly successful 55-year-old single malt that recently sold for $250,000 at auction. 

While most of us won’t ever get to sample that rare pour, a journey through the Yamazaki lineage is open to all. Starting with the Distiller’s Edition, fans of this noble brand enjoy the careful curation through 12-, 18- and 25-year-old editions. 

Tasting notes

Aroma

On the nose, Distiller’s Edition offers a scent of deep red fruits and floral notes interlaced with heavy vanilla and coconut tropical layers.  

Palate

Red berries continue on the taste with lighter notes of peach and raspberry. There’s a gentle spice here too, reflecting the three types of wood that casked it.

Finish

Vanilla is the dominant player on the finish, which wraps woody and herbal notes into a sweet and lengthy ending to this delicious pour. 

Click here to view all our Yamazaki bottles

From Rare Gems to Great Discounts: Have you visited our two summer sales?

Whether you’re searching for a collector’s item or that very special gift, we have two great sales running to meet every need.

Visit our RARE GEMS section to find the very best reductions in collectable and rare bottles from across the world.

Meanwhile, in our CLEARANCE SALE we’re making room for new arrivals and you’ll find discounts of up to 50% in some cases.

Both sales end soon, so don’t delay.