Yamazaki Story of the Distillery Edition

Product Description

A Whisky Written Chapter by Chapter

Yamazaki Story of the Distillery Edition is Suntory's ongoing tribute to the Yamazaki Distillery itself, Japan's first and oldest malt whisky distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii at the foot of a mountain outside Kyoto. Rather than chasing a single fixed recipe, this series is designed to retell the distillery's story a little differently with each release, drawing on the full breadth of what Yamazaki is capable of producing. The label artwork itself reflects that intent, built around imagery of the distillery grounds.

How the Story of the Distillery Series Is Made

Each edition is a non-vintage, no-age-statement single malt, blended from a wide variety of Yamazaki malts matured across Mizunara oak, Spanish oak, and white oak casks. That range of cask types is the point: Yamazaki's stillhouse and warehouse operations are built to produce an unusually diverse set of malt characters from one site, and this series exists specifically to showcase that diversity in a single bottling each year. It's bottled at 43% ABV, using the same Mizunara oak tradition, Japan's own aromatic native wood, that has shaped Yamazaki's identity since the 1940s.

Tasting Notes

Series Character: Story of the Distillery editions tend toward a rich, layered profile built around dried fruit, honeyed sweetness, warming spice, and gentle oak, with the specific balance shifting from edition to edition based on that year's blend.

Food Pairings

The dried fruit and honey character common to this series pairs well with a spiced fruitcake, aged Gouda, or a simple almond tart. Its warming spice notes also complement dark chocolate or roasted chestnuts.

Serving Suggestions

Story of the Distillery whiskies reward a slow, attentive pour, best enjoyed neat to let their layered fruit and spice character fully unfold. A single large ice cube can also help open the aromatics for those who prefer a slightly cooler glass.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve? Distiller's Reserve is Suntory's standing, always-available core bottling. Story of the Distillery is a separate, periodically released series built each time from a different blend of Mizunara, Spanish, and white oak-aged malts.

Is this whisky vintage-dated? It's released periodically under a shared "Story of the Distillery" name, with each edition representing a distinct blend rather than a single unchanging recipe.

What proof is this whisky? 43% ABV (86 proof).

What casks are used? A blend of Mizunara oak, Spanish oak, and white oak casks.

Explore More

Looking for more from this legendary Japanese whisky house? Shop the full Suntory collection for Hibiki, Toki, and other Yamazaki expressions, or browse our complete Japanese Whiskey collection for more from Japan's top distilleries.

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