Single Malt Watami President Choice 12YO
⏳ Drinking Window
As a premium distilled spirit, this bottle does not improve with age in glass and will remain stable indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place. Once opened, it is best enjoyed within 1 to 3 years to experience its delicate aromatic profile at its peak.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Pairs beautifully with charcoal-grilled yakitori, rich soy-glazed braised pork belly (Kakuni), or high-quality dark chocolate.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from Yamazaki, Japan's oldest malt whisky distillery established in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, the Single Malt Watami President Choice 12 Year Old is a legendary collaborative bottling. Located at the convergence of the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers, the distillery benefits from a unique misty climate and exceptionally soft water, famously praised by the historic tea master Sen no Rikyu. This special release was curated specifically for the president of the renowned Japanese restaurant group Watami. Matured for 12 years, it showcases Yamazaki's masterful blending of spirits aged in a combination of Spanish sherry casks, American white oak, and rare Japanese Mizunara oak. The result is a complex, deeply aromatic expression that weaves together notes of dried fruit, sandalwood, honeyed spice, and a whisper of incense, embodying the pinnacle of Japanese whisky craftsmanship.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1923 by Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii, the Yamazaki Distillery stands at the foot of Mount Tennozan in Shimamoto, Osaka, as Japan's pioneering commercial malt whisky distillery. Situated where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge, the site was specifically selected for its exceptionally soft, pristine water and misty, humid microclimate that provides optimal conditions for barrel maturation. Yamazaki is renowned for its versatile production methodology, deploying washbacks of both wood and stainless steel, uniquely shaped copper pot stills, and a diverse cask regime featuring Japanese Mizunara oak, American oak, and Spanish ex-sherry butts. The distillery is celebrated globally for its layered, multi-dimensional single malt whiskies, most famously its flagship 12- and 18-Year-Old expressions characterized by complex notes of tropical fruit, sandalwood, and delicate spice.