Single Malt 12 years old
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this single malt does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to be enjoyed immediately upon release. It can be savored over many years, maintaining its exceptional quality indefinitely when stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled yakitori with sweet soy glaze, rich fatty tuna sashimi, and high-quality dark chocolate.
✨ Technical Specifications
Established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, Yamazaki is Japan's oldest commercial whisky distillery, nestled at the foot of Mount Tennozan where three rivers meet to create a uniquely humid mist ideal for aging spirits. The Yamazaki 12 Years Old, first launched in 1984, is a pioneering single malt that put Japanese whisky on the global map. It is crafted using pure mineral water from the region—famed since the 16th century when tea master Sen no Rikyu established his tea house here. This expression is meticulously aged in a combination of American, Spanish, and rare Japanese Mizunara oak casks. The Mizunara oak infuses the spirit with its signature aromatic notes of sandalwood, incense, and coconut, while the sherry and bourbon casks contribute rich dried fruit, honey, and vanilla layers, resulting in a complex, multi-layered masterpiece.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1923 by Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii with technical assistance from Masataka Taketsuru, Yamazaki is the pioneer and foundational benchmark of Japanese whisky. Situated southwest of Kyoto at the foot of Mount Tennozan, the distillery occupies a tranquil river valley where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge. This geographic setting engenders an enduring misty microclimate, significant seasonal temperature variations, and access to exceptionally pure, soft subterranean spring water historically lauded by tea master Sen no Rikyu. Uniquely engineered to function as a self-contained ecosystem of distinct styles, Yamazaki employs diverse fermenters alongside pot stills of varied shapes, sizes, and condensation configurations. Its maturation program is celebrated for its virtuosic wood management under Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, incorporating American oak ex-bourbon barrels, Spanish oak sherry butts, and rare indigenous Mizunara Japanese oak. The resulting single malts, led by the flagship 12, 18, and 25 Year Old expressions, are distinguished by sandalwood spice, dried fruit complexity, and aristocratic balance.