Yamazaki Puncheon

A no age statement single malt from Yamazaki, Japan's first malt whisky distillery, set in the Shimamoto valley of Osaka Prefecture where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers meet and soft humidity aids long maturation. Founded by Suntory in 1923, the distillery runs many still shapes for a wide spirit palette. This Puncheon edition is a release built to showcase one wood type, the oversized American oak puncheon, and was bottled in 2013 at a full strength 48%.

Matured in American white oak puncheons, casks whose great size slows the exchange with the wood and rewards patience with a rounded, creamy character. Expect vanilla cream, sweet coconut and a toasted nuttiness layered over the soft orchard fruit that runs through the house style. The higher bottling strength lends real texture and body, carrying the whisky into a long, gently spiced close that stays balanced and mellow in the way Yamazaki is known for.