Single Malt Spanish Oak (((Bottled 2022)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this bottle does not mature further in glass and is ready to drink upon release. It will remain in peak condition indefinitely if stored unopened in a cool, dark place, and is best enjoyed within 1 to 2 years after opening.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Dark chocolate desserts, roasted duck, mature blue cheese
✨ Technical Specifications
The Yamazaki Single Malt Spanish Oak Bottled 2022 is a highly coveted limited release that showcases the distillery's mastery of cask maturation. Matured exclusively in Spanish oak casks—highly prized barrels crafted from oak sourced from northern Spain and seasoned with sherry—this expression highlights a crucial pillar of the Yamazaki flavor profile. The wood imparts a deep, rich amber hue and layers of concentrated dried fruits, cacao, and warm baking spices. This release is a testament to Shinjiro Torii's pioneering vision of creating a uniquely Japanese whisky, utilizing the exceptionally soft water of the Vale of Yamazaki and the region's humid microclimate to coax intense, multi-layered complexity from the Spanish wood.
🍾 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.