Tasted at the Suntory Hakushu distillery in November 2024 at 22000 JPY for a 30mL pour. Nose - Sherry, raisins, honey, leather, wet tobacco, stewed apples, caramel Taste - Raisins, honey, chocolate, leather, cinnamon, hint of plum Finish - Lingering honey sweet, hint of raisin, sandalwood, leather dryness, cocoa powder Score - 96/100 Final Thoughts - This is an incredibly well balanced single malt. Great nose, great balance, good amount of sherry influence while maintaining the great malt characteristic of Yamazaki single malt. I felt as if this had a bit more sherry influence and maybe sort of masked the true Yamazaki malt a bit which I think does very well with mizunara cask influence (I think this adds a slightly medicinal/sandalwood vibe that's truly unique). Overall this was a fantastic pour, I'm really glad I had a chance to try this pour, but I have a feeling that for the value, I'll stick with the Yamazaki 18 (which used to be much more affordable) Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Not for the price NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.
About this bottle
Overseen by Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, Suntory reformulated their 25 Year single malt and released it in July 2021. It is now aged in three types of barrels for at least 25 years: American oak, Spanish oak, and Japanese Mizunara oak like their 12 Year and 18 Year expressions with the ratios of the components differing. The previous 25 Year bottling was only aged in Spanish sherry casks. It is bottled at 86 proof.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 5 parsed reviews.
Fit the profile of an ancient asian temple with notes of sandalwood, cinnamon, burnt honey, grapefruit, dark chocolate, coconuts, and ginger. Nose: Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Honey, Bananas, Coconuts, Raisins, Figs, Dark Chocolate, Grapefruit, Plums, Brown Sugar, Mangoes, Dust Palate: Sandalwood, White Chocolate, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Honey, Cinnamon, Apricots, Coconuts, Ginger, Blood Oranges, Figs, Vanilla Finish: Cinnamon, Sandalwood, Dark Chocolate, Walnuts, Dried Figs, Acacia Honey, Almonds, Ginger, Blackberries, Cranberries
Takes everything the yamazaki 18 does well and does it better Nose: feels like sticking your head in a candied barrel. My wife said that she wishes she had a perfume tbat snells like that. Otherwise, tart and sweet fruit. Tart asian pear, ripe persimmon that is ready to melt in your mouth Mouth: sweet fruit followed by gentle spice and floral notes Finish: long and smooth, subtle sweetness and wood
Crazy that this was only the third best whisky of the day.
So good. Sherry, wood, honey, cinnamon.
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
