Yamazaki 12 Year Whisky by Suntory
Product details
| Management number | 253706498 | Release Date | 2026/10/24 | List Price | US$69.65 | Model Number | 253706498 | ||
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Yamazaki 12 is one of Japan’s benchmark single malts—elegant, multilayered, and refined. It balances fruit, oak (including rare Mizunara oak), and spice in a way that makes it approachable but richly complex. A classic whisky that often serves as an entry point into Japanese malts.
Origins & Craftsmanship
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Distillery: Yamazaki, Suntory. Japan’s first malt whisky distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii.
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Maturation: Aged 12 years in a blend of casks — American oak, Spanish oloroso sherry casks, and Japanese Mizunara oak. This combination gives its signature complexity.
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ABV: 43%.
Tasting Profile
| Sense | Notes |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pure gold. |
| Nose | Peach, pineapple, grapefruit, candied orange, vanilla, clove, and a touch of Mizunara oak — sandalwood/incense-like hints. |
| Palate | Rich and smooth — coconut, cranberry, butter; interplay of sweet fruit and mild oak spice. |
| Finish | Long, sweet and spicy: ginger, cinnamon, a lingering warmth of oak. |
Critical & Community Impressions
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Reviewers often praise Yamazaki 12 for how well-integrated its cask influences are — the Mizunara oak in particular gives it a layer of exotic character (incense / sandalwood) that others don’t.
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It’s seen as very clean and well-crafted, with no harsh edges; many say that, despite being a 12-year whisky, it has a maturity and polish beyond its years.
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Some critique its price relative to Scotch and other whiskies of similar age, but most agree the quality justifies much of the premium.
Quick Overview
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Yamazaki Distillery, Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan |
| Age | 12 years |
| Cask Types | American oak, Spanish sherry (oloroso), Japanese mizunara oak |
| ABV | 43% |
| Style | Elegant, fruit-forward, subtly spiced, with oak influence but not overpowering. |
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