Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve

The Yamazaki 12, if I understand correctly is a mix of malt matured in American oak puncheon, Spanish oak sherry, peated malt, and the enigmatic Mizunara Oak. I don’t fully understand the difference between the Y12 and this YDR but as far as I can make out the YDR is a Bordeaux Wine and Sherry Cask, with just a splashing of Mizunara Oak as a token gesture. The price point difference would definitely suggest that the expensive Japanese Oak matured malt is not heavily present here. N: Light and bright. Plenty of sherry cask and bordeaux influence with winey dried fruits. Toasty barley, bitter cocoa powder, dark honey. P: Dry, medium body with warm spice. Stewed pear, sharp red berries, big toasty malt and honey in the mid palate and then vanilla, toffee and clove. F: Medium. Peaches, brown sugar, cloves and oak tannins. A slightly floral after tone but not particularly delicate or pretty. Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12 are unquestionably delicious whiskies and have so much to offer. But the AUD$450 price is in a word; ludicrous. Enter the Distiller Reserves. At around 1/3 of the price the DRs are supposed to be approachable representations of their fully aged counterparts. For Hakushu, the DR is a close counterpart. For Yamazaki, the DR is in my opinion a pale imitation. Complexity, depth, texture, delicacy; all are subdued or missing. If I didn’t know of the Y12 the DR still isn’t great, just the intriguing side of good. If you can’t afford the Y12, I would take a pass on this YDR. Distiller whisky taste #281 [Pictured here with a lump of Adamite on a limonite-gossan from Ojuela Mine, Mexico. Adamite is a zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral that is found in the oxidised zones above zinc ore deposits or in arsenic-bearing hydrothermal mineral zones. Pure adamite is colourless but it is most often seen with a yellow colour due to iron replacing zinc in the crystal structure.]

Nose: The aroma presents cherry blossoms and an abundance of ripe, tropical fruits. There's a touch of dark chocolate, plum, dark honey and brown sugar, accompanied by a bit of crème brûlée. A sharp acetone note is noticeable, reminiscent of pear and red apples. Adding a few drops of water diminishes these notes. There’s no perfumed scent from the mizunara influence that i was expecting but overall, the whisky smells pleasing. Palate: On the palate, here is where it takes a turn. It’s very sharp and spicy, with hints of honey, brown sugar, and caramel. The tropical fruit notes are present but overshadowed by the sharpness. This sharpness indicates a very young whisky, which is pretty disappointing for a very expensive NAS bottle. Even with a bit of water, the sharpness persists, making it a letdown. Finish: The finish is virtually nonexistent and doesn't live up to expectations. Nothing much to write here. It leaves a lemon citrus note but otherwise lacks depth and is very short. It's probably one of the worst finishes I've experienced. Considering the price, I would not recommend this whisky to anyone. I would happily choose Nikka From the Barrel, which I consider one of the best affordable yet wonderful Japanese whiskies, over this one. Overall: Beautiful nose, but a very thin and disappointing palate, its just too sharp. The finish is non existent. Try a sample at a bar and decide for yourself before investing on an expensive bottle.

Caveat: May have COVID Nose: jam, some apple, malt. Some light vanilla and honey, a bit of that milk chocolate wafer smell. Strawberry note I’ve heard about becomes more apparent after a few sips. Palate: Malty, a little spicy. Oak notes, fruit notes are pretty juicy whatever they are. Can see the fresh berry and white peach notes more and more as it opens. Lychee. Finish: Spicy, like a red hot. Sweet note underneath it. Overall: nice blend of fruit and cinnamon spice. I had to lean on MoM notes and others to guide this tasting because my taste and smell are a bit whacked, but only noted the things I could actually pick up with their help. Feels like a juicy, generous dram that would be great in summer. Could be a higher rating if my senses turn out to have been impaired.

Another stellar Japanese malt. I smell fruitcake and spiced pear, while Kory (whom I’m sharing this bottle with) smells prunes (and he’s right). There’s lots of finesse here, with a funky, sour oak note and gentle thunder at play. On the palate, pastry notes return: peach upside down cake and rich notes of the best tiramisu you’ve ever had. Bright notes of guava are apparent, while gardenia blossoms grace the upper palate. Rain soaked moss and gentle peat smoke add to the subtleties of this whisky, while the oak funk nuance adds depth and intrigue. The finish is gorgeous, with oak spice and sandalwood displacing the dessert notes as the primary tone. A flourish of tropical fruit and salinity send it down. 

Japanese whiskies are nowadays either fake or ridiculously expensive, and even NAS expressions like the Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve are hard to find. Fruity, rich and not overtly young, the nose offers papaya, exotic spices and lemon cream, enriched by sandalwood, peach and a floral scent. The arrival has a bit of a nip, but the taste quickly improves with notes of strawberries, grapefruit and menthol. Peppery spices, tannins and evolving dryness from the Bordeaux casks drive the intense finish. It's a very decent dram, although light years behind the 12-year-old. RATING: 3.7/5.0 stars ≙ 85 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [+]

Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky - Distiller’s Reserve Spring 2014 Release is an elegant, single malt from the Yamazaki distillery, matured in Bordeaux wine casks & Sherry casks along with Mizunara casks. It has an aromatic birth with notes of dried fruits, strawberries with flowers, sandalwood & a hint of coconut; while a rich & fruity life adding notes of dried berries, raspberry, oak, peaches, & spices; that led to a long death with notes of vanilla & a hint of floral cinnamon. October 2017 / July 2022