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Suntory Yamazaki 18 Year Old

Autumn Leaves

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@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

5th Feb 2013

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  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Overall
    89

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Yamazaki is the first distillery in Japan, founded by Shinjiro Torri, in collaboration with his protégé Masetaka Taketsuru (who would later go hiw own way with Yoichi and Miyagikyo). This Yamazaki 18 Year Old is praised around the world and has won many prizes. This sherry butt matured Japanese whisky is not cheap. Around 150 EUR.

The nose is wonderfully complex and layered. Every whiff offers something new. All kinds of dark fruits reach me first: dades, raisins, berries, the dried variety as well. The second wave offers dark chocolate with vanilla filling, hints of mandarin and a plethora of spices. Chervil, thyme, camphor and eucalyptus. Some mint. Autumn leaves! Rose-hip tea. Polished leather. Maple syrup. It goes on for a while. This is simply magnificent!

It is wonderfully creamy and mouth coating, with loud Mizunara oak. A lot of tannins, but it works perfectly. Well seasoned with a lot of sherry influence. The dried fruits return, upholstered with a light lemon zestiness. Slightly bitter orange tea. Big dose of cinnamon. Grrrrrreat!

In the long, drying finish, I finally get some woodspice.

This is an absolutely stunning whisky from the Land of the Rising Sun.

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4 comments

@Onibubba
Onibubba commented

"Autumn Leaves" really brought this whisky back to me, so I had to comment. There is something old, musty, and damp about this whisky. The 12YO is bright and cheery, not so, this one. One of the more complex whiskies I have had the pleasure of tasting. Another note, regarding price. In Nashville TN this ranges from 116 - 149 dollars. Amazing to me to see such a range for one whisky in a single city.

11 years ago 0

Rigmorole commented

I went to a sushi bar where a glass of this was $35. Then again, there's another bar near me where it's only $22. I think I will try a glass this weekend at the Whisky Soda Bar. It has a kitchy theme with Thai gangster movies and surfer movies from the 1970's playing on the TV's. I think Bill Murray drank the 18 frequently in the film, Lost in Translation. I tried the 12 last summer and was disappointed. For me, the complexity was lacking, although it was very smooth and drinkable.

11 years ago 0

Rigmorole commented

In Portland OR a bottle of the 18 runs about $200

11 years ago 0

Rigmorole commented

$116 is an outright steal. I would already own a bottle at that price. I've been noticing the 18 for the past few months and eyeing it. $200 is too high for me to pay for this product. I just don't see it warranting that kind of dough. Then again, I've never tasted it. Time will tell, but I've never paid over $160-ish for a scotch. That has been my price ceiling

11 years ago 0

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