Yamazaki Suntory Royal 60

Yamazaki Royal 60 is a young single malt from Suntory's distillery in the valley of Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, carrying a five year age statement in a release bottled for the Italian market. Yamazaki opened in 1923 as Japan's first malt distillery, and this youthful bottling shows the spirit at an early stage of maturation, before long ageing deepens its character.

Matured in Ex-Bourbon wood, the whisky keeps the bright, fruit forward side of the house style to the front. American oak gives vanilla and a clean sweetness, fresh orchard fruit leads, and the texture is light and direct rather than deep. At 43% it is an approachable, youthful Yamazaki that frames the distillery's character early on, the malt clearly on show and the wood adding a gentle sweetness without the weight of its older expressions.