Tasting Notes

Yamazaki 18 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky is a benchmark expression from Japan’s first and most revered distillery, Suntory’s Yamazaki. Aged in a complex mix of American oak, Spanish sherry casks, and Japanese Mizunara oak, it delivers a layered, elegant profile that reflects decades of craftsmanship. The nose opens with dried fruits, dark cherry, and rich sherry-soaked raisins, lifted by subtle floral undertones from Mizunara. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet refined, with velvety textures carrying flavors of dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, and hints of leather and spice. Layers of sweet oak and faint incense drift beneath the richness, giving the whisky a uniquely Japanese balance of depth and subtlety. The finish is long, complex, and lingering—warming with cocoa, sweet smoke, and dried plum.

Food Pairings

Starter Smoked duck breast or seared tuna tataki—both complement the whisky’s balance of umami depth and delicate smoke.

Main Course Braised short ribs in a rich soy or miso glaze, or Wagyu beef steak, allowing the whisky’s dark fruit and spice to accentuate the richness of the meat.

Cheese Aged Gouda or Parmigiano-Reggiano, offering nutty sharpness that enhances the sherry cask influence.

Dessert Dark chocolate fondant or Japanese black sesame ice cream, where the whisky’s bitter-sweet cocoa notes and incense-like Mizunara character shine alongside.