Yamazaki: The Birthplace Of Japanese Whisky

Japanese whisky and Yamazaki go hand in hand. Literally. Yamazaki was the first commercial distillery in Japan and opened its doors in 1923 but found little initial attention. And what was the first whisky it produced? Yamazaki. 

In fact, ask any occasional whisky drinker to name a Japanese whisky brand and they’d be hard-pressed to name any other brand but Yamazaki.

This exquisite brand paved the way for the Japanese whisky revolution. Previously a subject restricted to hardcore whisky drinkers who wanted to try something different away from traditional Scottish whiskey, Japanese whisky is now a subject all by itself. And Yamazaki sits firmly at the top as the best example of just that.

And that’s not even really just a matter of opinion. Each of Yamazaki’s bottles is regarded in its own right as one of the best whiskies in the world. There aren’t many brands out there who can speak of such success, year after year. 

Collecting a bottle of Yamazaki is something to show off about and almost definitely an investment piece for years to come. Which means that drinking this subtly sweet, oaky, floral spirit is not only a talking point, but also something of a piece of history.

Yamazaki Whisky price and bottle sizes

Bottle	Size	Price (USD)
Yamazaki 12 Year Old Whisky	750ml	$195
Suntory Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve	750ml	$283
Yamazaki 12 Year Old Pure Malt Final Version	750ml	$759
Yamazaki 18 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky	750ml	$1,276
Yamazaki Limited Edition 2017	750ml	$1,611
Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel	750ml	$3,378
Yamazaki Heavily Peated 2013	750ml	$3,114
Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016	750ml	$8,136
Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Years	750ml	$10,218
Yamazaki Mizunara 2014	750ml	$10,285
Yamazaki 25 Year Old	750ml	$17,368
Suntory Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 1984	750ml	$30,996

A spirit that’s definitely worthy of its attention

There are some spirits that become investment pieces thanks to how seriously delicious they are. And there are other whiskies that spend their lives being admired thanks to how difficult they are to secure. Yamazaki whisky manages to be both at the same time.

It’s traditional in Japan to produce small-batch whisky, which means demand almost always exceeds supply. 

Throw into the mix the fact that Yamazaki Single Malt scored a 97.5 out of 100 in the Whisky Bible back in 2014, and was named as the best in the world, and you’ll start to understand why securing a bottle of this whisky — or even sampling it if someone has a bottle they’re prepared to open — is such a big deal.

Owned by the Suntory brand and based in a quiet Kyoto suburb, Yamazaki is widely regarded as the birthplace of Japanese whisky. 

A brilliant all-rounder and a perfect interpretation of what Japanese whisky should smell and taste like, Yamazaki is primarily made up of whisky aged in American oak and ex-bourbon casks, with trace amounts of whisky coming from Japanese Mizunara casks. 

Its distillation process boasts some of the purest water found in all of Japan which, when paired with the brand’s expertise, results in one truly subtle yet brilliant bottle.

The Yamazaki distillery produces over 60 distinct single malt whiskies, utilizing its seriously soft water and misty climate to produce some of the best spirits in the world. 

And, while everyone can agree that Japanese whisky was inspired by Scottish whisky, the differences nowadays are huge. Unique Japanese terrain, home-sourced oak barrels, and distinctive aromas all come together to give Japanese whisky the edge that it rightly deserves.

The result? Rising prices for Yamazaki each year. While it’s possible to find bottles of the 12 Year Old for around $125, the older bottles are much harder to source. A bottle of its 50 Year Old most recently sold for over $298,000 and other bottles cost into the tens of thousands, too. This growing spirit keeps taking up more space across the world and it’s all thanks to Yamazaki.

How to drink Yamazaki Whisky

The first time you drink Yamazaki Whisky, you’ll want to drink it neat. Even if you’re not typically a whisky drinker, the quality of this spirit means you’ll appreciate its tasting notes and unique nature best by sipping it. This is one of the two traditional ways to drink whisky in Japan. 

The other common way is drinking it in a Whisky Highball (we’ve added our favorite recipe further down). But that doesn’t mean those are the only two ways to drink Yamazaki Whisky.

A lot of attention in Japan focuses on the temperature of water when paired with whisky. You can enjoy your Yamazaki on the rocks, served with chilly blocks of ice, Mizuwari (with cool water) or Oyuwari (with warm water). 

Each different water temperature releases different elements of the spirit so, if you’re on a mission to truly understand everything Yamazaki encompasses, you’ll want to sample a bottle with water at each temperature — just preferably on a day when you don’t have plans immediately afterward.

Japanese whisky pairs great with Japanese food — think soy sauce-based dishes to bring out Yamazaki’s sweetness or sushi for its strong fermented, fishy and salty flavors.

There’s also a growing market for craft cocktails made with Yamazaki, something that a number of Tokyo’s coolest cocktail bars are getting involved with.

The best cocktails to make with Yamazaki Whisky

The premium quality and price of Yamazaki whisky means you’ll rarely use these bottles for cocktail making. But, if you do want to highlight the flavors in cocktail form, choose subtle mixes that stand back and let the spirit do the talking.

Whisky Highball

Ingredients:

• Yamazaki 12 Year Old Whisky
• Soda Water
• Grapefruit twist for garnishing 

Cocktail recipes: The trick for pouring a perfect Whisky Highball is to not over-stir it. Especially when you’re drinking a whisky like Yamazaki. To make, fill a Highball glass with ice and allow it to chill. Pour in your measure of whisky and stir gently. Top with soda water, give a single stir from the bottom of the glass and add a twist of grapefruit before serving.

Tokyo Sidecar

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Yamazaki 12 Year Old Whisky
• 23 ml Cointreau
• 0.5 tsp Yuzu Juice

Cocktail recipes: The Tokyo Sidecar takes a journey into Asia for a new twist on the traditional cocktail. Bright and charming, it’s made by adding all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and filling with ice. Then, shake and strain into a chilled Martini glass before serving.

Local Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 60 ml Yamazaki 12 Year Old Whisky
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated Sugar
• Two dashes Angostura Bitters
• Orange Twist for garnishing

Cocktail recipes: An Old Fashioned made with Japanese whisky is lighter and slightly sweeter than one made with Scottish whiskey. To make a Local Old Fashioned, add all ingredients into a mixing glass and muddle to break down the sugar. Stir once or twice, add ice and stir again. Then, strain into an Old Fashioned glass over fresh ice and stir one final time before garnishing and serving.

Frequently asked questions about Yamazaki Whisky