The Yamazaki 12 Year 100th Anniversary Whisky

Product Description

Yamazaki 12 Year 100th Anniversary: A Century, Honored in a Bottle

The Yamazaki 12 Year 100th Anniversary Edition was released to mark the centennial of the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan's first and oldest malt whisky distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii. "Yamazaki" means "mountain cape," a reference to the distillery's unique location secluded among forest-covered mountains outside Kyoto. This special bottling carries a refreshed label capturing the distillery from a low angle, a design meant as a nod to Torii's founding vision and a reminder to always stay grounded.

How Yamazaki 12 Year 100th Anniversary Is Made

This single malt is distilled from 100% malted barley in copper pot stills, then matured a minimum of 12 years across a combination of American oak, Spanish oak, and Japan's rare Mizunara oak casks. The liquid itself is the same acclaimed Yamazaki 12 Year recipe that first put Japanese single malt on the global stage, here presented in commemorative centennial packaging. It's bottled at 43% ABV, and has been recognized with a 93-point rating from Whisky Advocate and the 2024 International Spirits Challenge Supreme Champion Spirit title.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Peach, pineapple, grapefruit, clove, candied orange, vanilla, and Mizunara oak.

Palate: Coconut, cranberry, and butter.

Finish: Sweet ginger and cinnamon, with a long finish.

Food Pairings

The peach and coconut character in Yamazaki 12 Year pairs beautifully with a tropical fruit tart, aged Comté or Gruyère cheese, or a light vanilla custard. Its ginger and cinnamon finish also complements a spiced pear dessert.

Serving Suggestions

Yamazaki 12 Year is best enjoyed neat to fully appreciate its fruit-forward complexity, though it also holds up well in a highball with soda water for a lighter, more refreshing pour. Given its centennial packaging, it also makes a standout gift or collector's piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this different from the standard Yamazaki 12 Year? Only the packaging, this edition features commemorative 100th anniversary labeling; the liquid inside is the same acclaimed Yamazaki 12 Year recipe.

What casks is this whisky aged in? American oak, Spanish oak, and Japan's rare Mizunara oak.

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

Why was this edition released? To mark the 100th anniversary of the Yamazaki Distillery and the House of Suntory.

Explore More

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

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