Yamazaki 12 Years Old

Yamazaki 12 Years Old is the core single malt from Suntory's Yamazaki distillery in Osaka Prefecture, Japan's first malt whisky distillery, founded in 1923 where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers meet and humidity aids the spirit's slow maturation. This bottling reached the Netherlands market and sits at 43% in a 700ml format, the reference point for Japanese single malt for much of its modern history.

Matured in Ex-Bourbon wood, the American oak gives vanilla and honeyed sweetness over the distillery's soft orchard fruit. In the house style the 12 typically layers a faint sandalwood lift beneath its gentle fruit and light spice, drawn from the Japanese oak that runs through the wider cask mix. The whole pour is balanced and rounded, light on its feet yet complete, made to be approachable while showing why this malt became Japan's benchmark and a fixture on European shelves.