Yamazaki 18 Year Old
This post is my last of the 2021 Japanese Whisky Weeks - 3 weeks spent delving into 21 different Japanese whiskies from almost every producer (I’m looking at you next year, Chichibu and Mars!). It’s been fun and, more importantly, delicious.
I thought it fitting to end on the Yamazaki 18 Year Old. It’s not my top-rated Japanese whisky, nor is it one on my must-have list. It is, however, for many the epitome of Japanese whisky-making. This bottle regularly tops $300 on auction sites.
For a short while, it was discontinued due to the Japanese whisky shortage, but as far as I know it was the first age-stated whisky older than 12 years to be reinstated. As always, I welcome correction, but I’m willing to bet I’m right on this one. It’s simply too important a brand and too important a product for Suntory. This is their prized pig, the horse they’re putting up for the Triple Crown.
For me, I need to try it again. The notes I have below are exactly what I smelled, tasted, and experienced while tasting this time, but I have a feeling in the back of my mind that it’s better than what I had. Maybe the sample was a bit old, or the bottle it came from had been open for awhile. The nose was an immediate “wow”, while the palate was great at first but quickly tapered away to a short finish. When that happens to me (and when I know it’s not a bad whisky) it’s either an old sample or something is off. I tried other whiskies alongside it and feel 100% confident in those notes, so I don’t think my palate was off that night.
Ah well. For another day. Kampai!
As of publication, this product meets all the criteria of “Japanese whisky “ defined by the Japan Spirits & Liqueur Makers Association.
Yamazaki 18 Year Old: Specs
Classification: Japanese Single Malt Whisky
Origin: Yamazaki Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
Age: 18 Years Old
Location: Osaka, Japan
Yamazaki 18 Year Old Price: Good luck on auction.
Yamazaki 18 Year Old Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Deep bronze. No rims, liquid sloughs to bottom.
Nose: Very little smoke. Lemongrass, vanilla, zero ethanol. Tiniest bit of woodsmoke.
Palate: Ooh that’s nice - rich, peppery mouthfeel. The Szechuan pepper continues as green malt and yuzu take hold. Mouthfeel is spicy on the tip of my tongue, fairly light on the palate. Effervescent, evaporates quickly.
Finish: Short, not much happens, with a little shadowy spice. Disappointing given how this started.
Overall: Assuming my notes are right, this peaked wayyyy too early. The nose was fantastic, interesting, and nuanced. The palate started off well before the Szechuan peppercorns started to dominate. The mouthfeel started rich and thinned, and the finish was almost nonexistent. A shame - if each part were as good as the nose it would be brushing against an 8 in my book.
Final Rating: 5.8
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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