Today I will be reviewing an old school Japanese whisky. Yamazaki has been distilling whisky since 1923. The 12 year old is the core expression. The Japanese style of whisky is often described as a scotch copy, but I feel that Japanese whisky, whilst indeed similar, as a subtlety different character all its own. If a comparison must be drawn I would say it is scotch reimagined.The whisky is well structured with vibrant, crisp, summer-time flavours on the arrival, palate and finish.
This is a good quality whisky. Aged in a combination of ex-bourbon American casks, Spanish sherry casks, and Japanese oak barrels and bottled at a slightly higher than average strength of 43%.
There is a good amount going on in this whisky – a burst of fresh fruit salad on the nose and clean, refreshing flavours arrive on the palate. This would be a brilliant summer time dram – approachable, invigorating and effervescent.
Appearance: Amber gold.
Nose: Bowls of fresh fruits – Grapefruit, pineapple, orange, peach, mango, banana, vanilla.
Palate: Fresh fruit, cranberry, oak, vanilla.
Finish: Medium. Ginger and bitter lemon.
Review by Jared Brown
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