Suntory 18 Years Yamazaki

This Single Malt Whisky matured in three different oak casks: American, Spanish and Japanese. This makes the Whisky from the Suntory owned distillery exceptional. The Valley of Yamazaki on the mountainside of Tennozan is located on the island Honshu and is the birthplace of Japanese Whisky, since 1923.

This Single Malt Whisky matured in three different oak casks: American, Spanish and Japanese. This makes the Whisky from the Suntory owned distillery exceptional. The Valley of Yamazaki on the mountainside of Tennozan is located on the island Honshu and is the birthplace of Japanese Whisky, since 1923.

Details about this bottle Edit
1699
Yamazaki
Japan
Single Malt Whisky
18 Years
43%
0.7 l
Original bottling
Chill filtration - With Artifical colouring - With
Average tasting notes Tasting notes
Calculated from 26 Tasting Notes
i
Nosing
Fruit:
Fruit:
Sherry:
Dried Fruit:
Dried Fruit:
Sweet:
Sweet:
Grape:
Grape:
Oak:
Caramel:
Caramel:
Oak:
Cherry:
Cherry:
Sherry:
Vanilla:
Vanilla:
Honey:
Berries:
Raisin:
Chocolate:
Peach:
Honey:
Berries:
Peach:
Chocolate:
Raisin:
Herb:
Pepper:
Spices:
Pear:
Malt:
Fig:
Alcohol:
Herb:
Leather:
Peat Smoke:
Alcohol:
Fig:
Pear:
Pepper:
Zitrus:
Nuts:
Malt:
Leather:
Spices:
Nuts:
Zitrus:
Tasting
Oak:
Oak:
Spices:
Spices:
Fruit:
Fruit:
Sherry:
Sherry:
Sweet:
Sweet:
Nuts:
Herb:
Herb:
Oil:
Peach:
Malt:
Dark Chocolate:
Dark Chocolate:
Oil:
Peach:
Malt:
Vanilla:
Chocolate:
Nuts:
Orange:
Leather:
Pepper:
Zitrus:
Chili:
Zitrus:
Pepper:
Orange:
Leather:
Peat Smoke:
Vanilla:
Chili:
Chocolate:
Peat Smoke:
Date:
Floral:
Maritime Notes:
Cherry:
Plum:
Fig:
Salt:
Coffee:
Herbs:
Alcohol:
Maritime Notes:
Dried Fruit:
Dried Fruit:
Honey:
Fig:
Alcohol:
Cherry:
Coffee:
Herbs:
Salt:
Plum:
Floral:
Date:
Honey:
Finish
Fruit:
Fruit:
Oak:
Oak:
Sweet:
Sweet:
Chocolate:
Chocolate:
Spices:
Spices:
Peat Smoke:
Sherry:
Dark Chocolate:
Peat Smoke:
Herb:
Alcohol:
Herb:
Cherry:
Alcohol:
Raisin:
Dark Chocolate:
Nuts:
Cherry:
Raisin:
Pepper:
Plum:
Oil:
Nutmeg:
Pear:
Coffee:
Peach:
Fig:
Cinnamon:
Dried Fruit:
Fig:
Plum:
Pepper:
Cinnamon:
Pear:
Nutmeg:
Berries:
Berries:
Oil:
Dried Fruit:
Caramel:
Nuts:
Peach:
Sherry:
Coffee:
Caramel:

Quality rating of this bottle

4.8 Rate
62
Tasting Notes 26

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11. Jun 2010
06. Aug 2015
09. Mar 2017
08. Aug 2019
Whisky making as an art - that's the essence of whisky-dō, or 'the way of whisky'. No other Japanese Single Malt reflects this philosophy better than Yamazaki 18. An endless potpourri of flavors overwhelms the nose: lush, heavy sherry notes, pipe tobacco and sour plums; raspberries, polished wood and leather. The palate features aromatic wood spices, dark chocolate, dried fruits and hints of eucalyptus. Roasted coffee, mild orange zest and a touch of Mizunara oak mark the prolonged finish. An outstanding malt that has become shockingly expensive.
RATING: 4.5/5.0 ≙ 92 pts
13. Sep 2013
19. Feb 2014
05. Oct 2011
Davisscholar
23. Mar 2015
Enticingly complex, good "ringer" for any tasting. Bourbon, Sherry and Mizunara casks fight to assert themselves in the oak-driven, complex nose. Dried fruits (figs, dates) seamlessly blend into brown sugar and leather notes. Noble, aged "rancio" aromas (walnut, mushroom, Unagi) elicit memories of spirits considerably older than 18 years.

The palate is structured by an assertive, crisp alcohol presence which integrates the brandy-like richness and disguises the oak influence. Noticeable, yet silky tannins remind of raw cocoa and green vanilla beans without any bitterness.

Dark, brooding aromas persist into the long finish, giving way to the "incense" quality of Mizunara and the faintest hint of peat.

A malt of excellent quality and presentation that almost makes you forget the considerable price tag. It deservedly wears its price, reputation and rarity with pride.
26. Aug 2011
13. Nov 2010