Yamazaki Puncheon

A single malt from Yamazaki in Osaka Prefecture, the founding site of Japanese malt whisky, owned by Suntory and sited where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers meet near Shimamoto. Opened in 1923, the distillery runs many still shapes for a broad spirit palette. This Puncheon release, bottled in 2012, foregrounds one cask format above the others and carries no age statement at a generous 48%.

Full maturation in American white oak puncheons drives the profile, the large casks giving up their sweetness slowly and evenly. Look for vanilla cream, coconut and a toasted nuttiness over the orchard fruit typical of the distillery, with a clean, lightly spiced oak beneath. The higher bottling strength adds body and texture, carrying the whisky into a warm, lingering finish that keeps the rounded, balanced character for which the house is known.