Suntory (Yamazaki)
Where Japanese Whisky Was Born
Torii was a wine and spirits merchant who believed the Japanese palate could appreciate whisky if it was made with Japanese sensibilities. He hired Masataka Taketsuru — a young chemist who had spent years studying distillation in Scotland — as his founding distiller. Together, they created Japan's first malt whisky.
The partnership was brilliant but brief. Taketsuru wanted to build in Hokkaido (more Scottish climate); Torii insisted on the Kansai region (closer to his Osaka customer base). In 1934, Taketsuru left to found his own distillery — Nikka. This founding rivalry between Suntory and Nikka would drive Japanese whisky's evolution for the next century.
The Story
Founded 1923
Yamazaki's global breakthrough came in 2003 when the 12 Year Old won gold at the International Spirits Challenge. But the earthquake moment was 2014, when Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 was named World's Best Whisky by Jim Murray. Demand exploded. Prices soared. Japanese whisky had arrived — and the world wasn't ready for it.
The Yamazaki Style
Yamazaki's philosophy is about creating harmony through diversity. The distillery operates multiple still shapes, fermentation vessels (including rare wooden washbacks), and cask types — including Mizunara (Japanese oak), American white oak, and Spanish sherry casks. This allows them to produce over 70 different base whisky styles from a single site.
Mizunara oak is Yamazaki's signature. These rare Japanese oak casks impart flavours found nowhere else in whisky: sandalwood, incense, coconut, and a distinctive oriental spice. Mizunara is incredibly difficult to work with — the wood is porous and prone to leaking — but the results justify decades of patience.
Signature Notes
Yamazaki 12 Year Old
Japan's most iconic single malt. Matured in a combination of Mizunara, American, and Spanish oak casks, it delivers peach, pineapple, coconut, and that unmistakable Mizunara incense note — delicate, precise, and utterly captivating.
Whiskies from Suntory (Yamazaki)
9 expressions in our collection · Average rating: 4.4
Visiting Suntory (Yamazaki)
Yamazaki Distillery offers guided tours with tastings, though reservations are essential and often book out months in advance. The museum and tasting room are world-class.
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