Yamazaki 12 Year Old
山崎 12年
About
The flagship single malt from Japan's oldest distillery. Matured in American, Spanish and Japanese Mizunara oak casks, Yamazaki 12 is a beautifully balanced whisky that put Japanese whisky on the world map.
Where to Buy
Tasting Notes
Fruity pineapple, peach and grapefruit paired with cloves, candied orange, vanilla and oak.
Notes of coconut, butter and cranberries with a smooth, rounded mouthfeel. Hints of Mizunara oak sandalwood.
Long lasting with sweet ginger and cinnamon, fading into gentle oak.
What People Are Saying
A lightning rod for the "is it worth it?" debate in Japanese whisky circles. Reddit reviewers consistently praise the whisky itself as "a great sample of the Scotch experience adapted to the more delicate Japanese palate" with "approachable yet complex" flavor. However, the overwhelming consensus is that it is significantly overpriced outside Japan. At $150+ in the US, multiple Reddit threads ask "is it worth it at this price?" and the community is split. Common complaints: "a bit thin, and way overpriced" and "there are much better Japanese whiskies out there" for the money. In Japan at retail (around ¥10,000), sentiment is much more positive. The whisky's fame spiked after winning World Whiskies Awards and the Bill Murray film Lost in Translation boosted Suntory's cachet.
Community opinions collected from public forums and review sites. These are not our own ratings.
How to Enjoy
neat, rocks
