It’s dekanta’s 6th Anniversary and we’re celebrating by featuring one of our favourite Japanese whiskies every day until June 12th. Yesterday, we looked at the superb Hibiki Harmony – a whisky with no-age-statement but a lot of character – and if you missed that you can catch up right here.

Today, we’re looking at another entry-level whisky from Suntory, this time from their world famous Yamazaki range – it’s the Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve. 

The Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve

The Yamazaki Distillery was the first whisky distillery in Japan, founded in 1923. They are responsible for an incredible array of bottlings, from a range of age-statement and NAS expressions, to exquisite old and rare releases such as the oldest and most expensive Japanese whisky of all time – the Yamazaki 55 Year Old. Today their bottles are sought after by millions of thirsty drinkers around the world and their popularity is still increasing. 

The Yamazaki core range includes a 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old that could rival any whisky in their respective categories, and they have the awards to prove it. But the entry-level bottling, the Distiller’s Reserve, deserves an equal amount of respect.

Containing sherry cask and mizunara oak matured single malt, it’s rich and bursting with fruity and spicy notes that deliver a truly compelling tasting experience. 

On the nose it brings fresh strawberries, cherries, dried fruits and aromatic sandalwood imparted by the mizunara cask. The palate follows with sweet raspberries, raisins, gentle oak and just a tickle of cinnamon spice before the finish brings lashings of vanilla backed up by more cinnamon and holds for a medium length of time.

The fact the distillers at Yamazaki have managed to pack so much flavour, delivered in the smoothest of fashions, into a non-age-statement expression is testament to their ability. It’s a delicious dram that will keep you coming back time and again, particularly at the relatively low price point when compared to the distillery’s age-statement bottlings. 

All of this comes packaged inside a traditional Yamazaki bottle, instantly recognisable and a true hallmark of quality. 

The Yamazaki Distillers Reserve is a bottle that you’ll always find lying around in the dekanta office, patiently waiting to be opened and enjoyed every Friday evening, and it’s one that we can’t recommend enough. 

If you’re a fan of smooth, fruity whisky that delivers flavour in abundance, you really can’t go wrong with this one, and given the bottle is part of our 6th Anniversary Sale, there’s never been a better time to add one to your collection.

Stay Tuned

Thanks for joining us today, we’ll be back tomorrow with another of our favourite Japanese whiskies. 

Kampai!