🥃 Whisky Auctioneer

Very drinkable and enjoyable. Qualifies clearly as a daily dram. Very good!

Being polite, reserved and always striving for perfection - to fully appreciate Yamazaki 12, you have to understand Japanese culture and traditions. Fruity-sweet and subtle, the nose interweaves overripe grapes, blackberries and hazelnuts with sandalwood, crisp apples and floral vanilla. The full-bodied and well-balanced arrival is followed by juicy pears, mild ginger and fresh mint before the oak complexity kicks in. With its lasting, spicy and slightly dry finish, Mizunara oak maturation gives this malt a delicate and very distinct aftertaste. A piece of art! RATING: 4.0/5.0 stars ≙ 88 pts → FIRST-CLASS

When I first tried this, even at only 12 years old I thought the wood influence was too strong and it was really bitter on the palate. After the bottle was open a few months it had improved but still way short of any quality.

[November, 2014]  I had this dram during a "world whiskies" tasting at Bonn. In my old rating system (ten scales that translate into WB points: 50 - 66 - 75 - 80 - 82,5 - 85 - 87,5 - 90 - 92,5 - 95) I scored it 82,5.  My notes state a sweet profile with rather shy aromas.  It is easy to drink but nothing to remember by tomorrow morning...

This is the still affordable little brother of the famous 18 year old. He smells great, if you like it fruity, sweet, lovely. It is like any Japanese almost a work of art. The longer it is in the glass, the more fruity it becomes, intense vanilla. Very long, pleasant finish. The empty glass smells extremely good. It does not always have to be 18 years!

Far away the 18yo, it's full different and thinner flavors I think.

N: Grain-ish with lemon and fluffy icing-sugar. Rather Speyside like so far and not far off the previous Talisker WB if you disregard the heavy peating. T: Waxy, mild pepperiness and light lemon - with nothing 'firm' or decided. It's a bit ‘blendy’ and chalky, lacking clarity. F: Returns to its distillate roots. Some candy, boiled sweets. C: I struggled with this but enjoyed it also - some good, some not so good. I always did like the 12yo, especially back in the day [2008]. The batch quality [in my mind] was notched up when introduced to the UK market via Sainsburys when it was £39! That concludes the ‘Time & Space’ blind tasting which started with the Highland Park new-make WB Scores a C+

Second Tried:- Jan 2017 N- Almost like a lemon-ed vanilla. Caramelized plummy wood integrated well with earl grey tea notes. Fruit liqueurs. Balanced, rounded, stable and supple in aroma. Aged and concocted to pleased most noses. P- Elegant and ultra balance with smooth texture. Creme caramel, honeydew, strawberry candy, may be some sweet liquorice with welcoming bold spicy notes. F- Medium length, a dash of tart young plum whipped in with dry cedar wood. Very good with medium body weight. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur. *** First Tried:- July 2017 / Weighted Rate:- 88pt Nose:- Rush of plum and vanilla come thru with waves of floral note. Underneath with touches of nutmeg and woody coal. Very lively and energetic chap, punchy and nose warming. Palate:- Big, spiky and astringent of spices and raw root, sour fruits come along. Green and fresh. Finish:- Go the extra mile and echoing. Woody dry and spicy. Still feeling the pulse beating on the palate after a while. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

Eastern I can hardly imagine it, because I've already tasted this classic Japanese wine about five times, but I haven't yet written any proper tasting notes for the Yamazaki 12 Years Old. Imagine! My American friend John K. noticed that too, and without hesitation, he brought a bottle back from Japan and then headed to Gentbrugge. What a guy, huh? A lovely fruity nose of orchard fruit and orange, complemented by apricots and peach, as well as a hint of mango and pineapple. There's also some lemongrass and oriental spices. A subtle floral note gives it depth, while a soft spiciness adds some weight. This is a very pleasant nose. The flavor is a bit less pronounced, it's true, but still very enjoyable on apples and yuzu, apricots, and a hint of grapefruit, while ginger and cinnamon provide the necessary spice. Meanwhile, a soft bitterness also peeks through, and the woody spices create a pleasant warmth in the mouth. Again, very delicious. The finish is medium long, with some wood spices, pepper and a touch of mint for a refreshing lift on the deathbed. Yes, you can get me out of bed for this. Thank you so much, John. This is a treat!

very good standard - probably the best 12yo standard I ever had.

a vase full of fruits. quite a few dried fruits and dried berries.

I liked this much better than another batch I had tried earlier (82 points that time).

You have to give it some real time, at least 20-30 minutes and a 12 year old, respect! Then he is one of the best young sherrylastigen from Nippon!

Aroma：Moderate；Palate：85/100; Aftertaste：Medium.

a classic

COLOR: dark gold - resembles a good Scottish malt - Value for money but too expensive - better than the 12 year Nikka Blend - PLV] with about 130 -150€ too expensive

Ugh! This was my first Japanese whisky and I did not like it. It was definetely one of the worst drams I tried so far. How can a standard 12yo whisky be rated 89/100???

It's soft, fluffy, airy, and comfortable. Like an old leather sofa, cozy under a blanket. Warm wood, milk chocolate mousse, and coppery grain. But also very subtle, with notes of citrus and dried fruit adding complexity. Puffed rice. Baked apples on the palate, a square of dark chocolate, delicate vegetal touches, light spices, nutmeg, and cloves. A very woody and delicately minty finish, with notes of old bark and damp earth. Fresh chestnuts. There's some really interesting stuff in there, some nice subtlety and impressive balance. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-yamazaki-12-yo.html

Great standard bottling and a good start if you want to explore Yamazaki whiskys and also this very unique aroma, which is a nice complement to Scottish and Irish whisk(e)y. I bought my first 12-year-old Yamazaki in 2014 (just before the hype triggered by Jim Murray) for €65 from a local dealer. After that, the prices exploded and it was hardly available. Now I'm glad that it's almost always available for 120€... This is a bottle that has a permanent place on my whisky shelf and that I would always buy again.

Spicy, fruity and delicious. This blindsample exudes a variety of flavors and is harmoniously balanced. Great malt, I like it!

blind tasting Lots of grain on the nose. malty. sticky. Slightly sweet. Spicy Oak. All very strict. A bit boring. Slightly spritty note, although it doesn't even seem that high percentage. Subtle citrus aroma. Easy start. Very easy. Almost watery. Needs something to unfold. Decent barrel seasoning. But also a very dull bitter note. Almost a bit grainy. Really very grainy. Little fruit left now. Malty sweetness. That's pretty much it. Quickly gone on the finish. Although the strong wood flavor actually speaks for a longer storage time. Don't really remember. Difficult whisky. Basically he doesn't do anything wrong. Very clear profile. Very straight forward. Neat wood influence. But I just find it too bland. Resolution: Very surprising the Yamasaki 12yo. I had expected a lot more, with all the hype and the prices. Not really my thing. I would honestly prefer a Nikka from the barrel anytime.

This is a truly delicious 12-year-old Standard that doesn't need to hide its light under a bushel. The 43% ABV is intense, and the 12 years of aging bring a complex and more mature character than usual. It's a delicious mix of many impressions and casks that are really well-balanced. A tasty dram. €150? Well, no, but we all know what's wrong with the Japanese...

A very nice 12 year dram, and I would not say no to it, however, it is not currently my "go to" whisky.

A pretty slick product, but after finishing my bottle I feel the oak's too loud for me. A good example of the up- and downsides of Japanese whisky. Just having one glass makes you feel like buying a bottle, but then having bought one, drinking it becomes a bit of a chore.

Better this time than I had before, a newly opened bottle, different to modern Speyside products, more interesting.

Tasty and balanced. 80P.

Aged in casks of three different kinds of oaks: American, Spanish and Japanese.

This 12 year is modeled after the Scottish industry. The 12 year has bright tropical fruit on the nose and palate, full bodied. The whisky is aged in American, Spanish and Japanese oak barrels. The influence is definitely notable on the finish.

really round and delicious, baer could have been a good standard jock, so little recognition for me. Still a great all day dram. Dangerously tasty!

User bestmalt is pushing his own collection with superb points? ;) what's the deal?

The nose is still quite neat, if you leave the whisky some time in the glass, but the taste is disappointing. The bitter wood notes dominate and the alcohol is rather poorly integrated and obtrusive.

Better than expected, fine soft music, an absolutely nice dram. Soft and sweet sherry with a hints of herbs. Sweet and fruity sherry with some oak. A rather long fruity finish.

This was a huge surprise.

a conclusive whisky, balanced and harmonious from the nose to the finish I like it better than the 18y an always welcomed dram of 86 points out of 100

My notes from 27-9-2014

Brief impression from a blind tasting. Very good, unusual, yet balanced.

Comments A complex relatively young whisky. This one profits from different oak casks and the Japanese drive for elegance. Concerning price/performance ratio: 7/10

Suntory Yamazaki 12 year old single malt is medium-bodied with aromas of dried fruits and honey. Delicate and mellow tasting with a lingering, woody finish. http://www.shanghai9.net/whisky-whisky/suntory-yamazaki-12-year-old-japanese-single-malt-whisky.html

The nose was promising but the average result. a good whisky nevertheless Tasted during Vinidôme 2012

Once again a Japanese and then the Yamazaki 12. I'll leave out whether the price is justified - I wouldn't pay it. However, my conclusion about the whisky is entirely positive. Wonderful sweet notes with lots of vanilla, plus a nice freshness and spices. A whisky that is convincing in its complexity and yet still seems very light. It's best to convince yourself.

Some very nice aspects to this. I like it.

scbp-6541 is not bad in the basic model, lacking strength and refinement. The finish has a lot of youthfulness, and a considerable part of the blended wine should not eat barrels. 84

Great single malt example to introduce sb to the classic Japanese taste. Silly expensive for what it is though, more like 50-60 EUR worth.

A high-quality and tasty malt, even after 2 years in an open bottle it did not fall apart and did not lose its charm. Bought in 2015 for 2100 rubles)

The 12YO is a quite good! It has fresh grass, perfume, herbal, menthol, sweet fruits, chocolate and furniture polish notes on nose. The palate is an enough sweet, dry and spicy with notes of white fruits, polish and black tea. The long finish a little bit spicy with green apples and grass notes.

(Tasted blind) COLOUR: Golden. NOSE: After long aering; sweet, semolina, bourbon notes; some dried banana, tropical fruits, hints of marzipan. Rice wine. (85-86p) TASTE: Rounded, mild, medium viscosity, a little oily(?), some tropical fruit, a bit of dried fruits. Well balanced. (86-88p) OVERALL: Well made, well blended, well engineered (?), better quality (and needing more air) than I have realised earlier but not making me too enthusiastic. Total score 86 points.

Color: Deep Gold With an interesting distillate and use of first-fill barrels with a sense of proportion you have managed to get a more than solid 12 year old, for a euphoric rating, however, I miss it fragrant and that is not only due to the 43%.

I taste this malt during my trip to Japan in September 2019, directly at the distillery. Less pander and piacione than NAS, but more complex, richer in spicy and woody notes. Very very elegant and elegant, but also very drinkable.

Very balanced malt, which reminds me of the Kavlan Soloist Vinho Barrique, but less bulky and intrusive.

Tasting Note by The Chaps at Master of Malt Nose: Good body with plenty of nut oils and zest, a pleasant floral character with a little tropical fruit and a rooty note. Palate: Smooth and soft with good sweetness and winter spice. A lovely citrus note develops with more tropical fruit notes and a little rum. Finish: Medium with fruit and zest.

Elegantly flattering Japanese, unfortunately now extremely expensive.

Any ideas why this whisky has become very difficult to find? Both the Yamazaki 12yo and the Yamazaki 18yo have become very dfiifcult to find and the prices have shot up.

Well balanced overall, well balanced, but nothing to remember after hundreds of years

Blind Odyssey Whisky is being made everywhere these days, time to take on a 5 Blind Dram smack-down where I know the contenders but not the order I’m drinking them in. What fun. What could go wrong? I’m hoping to get at least 1 of the 5 right, time to sacrifice a chicken the the Gods of whisky reviewing in the vein hope of divine favour. Watch me prove to myself I know nothing. Germany, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, Sweden, let’s see what I make of all of this. Off we go! On the nose and it is sweet, berries arrive mushed into cardboard and quickly disperse, minty toffee, a little sourness arrives and then there’s much more wood in the nose, more barrel, more carpentry, old oak drawers, floorboards and joists. A dry shed in summertime, old tins of varnish jostle with a caramel dessert and pencil shavings. I’ve spelled things like this before. The colour makes me think this is going to be quite dense on the palate, let’s see. In the mouth and the arrival is sweet, but not too rich, a little oaty that slides seamlessly into a gingery toffee thing, caramel. There’s a caramel thing in the back of the palette that becomes varnish with balsamic flecks. Toasted, roasted, charred barrels. Then the woodiness makes its presence felt, some cocoa and a little dark treacle, and that’s where it ends. It tastes oddly familiar. I’m drawing a line through Irish as it just feels too roughly built. The finish isn’t massive but it’s got a good woody spice to it. There’s a faint sweet coffee and tobacco note that persists. Nice. So, not Irish. Not Scottish. I’m not thinking it’s Japanese(not that I have much experioence) so it’s a fist fight between Germany and Sweden. Tough call. I think I’m putting my krona on it being Swedish but, let’s be honest, I’m probably wrong right up the the hilt of my imaginary broadsword. (Bet it’s German). What ever it is, a nice dram, not the most complicated but easy and moreish. Who doesn’t like stuff like that? Cheers. -------------------------------- Blind revealed and it's Japanese. Never had a Yamazaki 12 before (never had any apart from their 18, once som years ago), and I have to say this was very enjoyable. Roll on no.2...

My first ever Japanese whisky. I really liked it. SGP: 541

Tasted on 13/11/2016 in a Japanese line-up (WB ID's 70236, 5443, 9252, 38412, 6016, 71248 and 20342, in that order). Nice, but a bit weird after the Nikka's; completely different palate. Seems more sophisticated, but with an "edge" and less expressive than the Nikka's.

A good whisky to discover Japanese style. Good quality, but it s definitely too expensive. As said, Japanese style even in the price tag !

First tasting (refined notes) i picked up lots of floral and earthy notes. (87pts) Second time i picked up a lot more sherry influence, big softness (85pts)

This is my first japanese whisky. Tried it in a japanese sushi restaurant. It won't be my last japanese whisky ;)

Good whisky, yes. But generally overrated and way waaaay overpriced now.

A very nice daily dram, but the price is to high.

Eyes: Golden Smell. Nose: Smell is dry and neat, with citrus, yuzu, winter dates, peaches, Tieguanyin tea leaves, woody red sandalwood (I didn’t expect to smell it, Fei Chai shook his head), taste of fermented dough Palate: slightly sweet, peach juice, orange peel cake, orange peel jam, woody aroma, roasted apple, apricot meat, fruit cake, tea bag end rhyme Finish: long, tea, wood shavings, wood bookshelf, rock sugar water Body: Medium light, insufficient grease Nose: 85/100 Palate: 85/100 Finish: 83/100 Body: 84/100 Overall: 84/100. It tastes better than I expected. The peach flavor is quite good, but the taste is still just an ordinary basic model (although the price is not basic), why do you have to stare at Yamazaki 12, Suwei There are plenty of alternatives, which are better and cheaper than it

Great whisky with unfortunately a not so good PLV.

On the nose some yellow fruits, apples. stale tea, toasted oak, some vanilla. Palate is too gentle and delicate for me. Its a decent malt but the pricetag is way too high.

A good thing. Smells and tastes older than the 12 years. I always smiled a little at Japanese whiskys, but they can do something.

One of my favorite standard whiskies, so sweet and fruity.

One of the most complex 12s I know.

Very tasty, beautifully constructed, the oak accompanies a great fruit mix.

The Japanese oak makes it very interesting.

Very floral with candied fruits, almond, cinnamon and sandalwood.

One of the whiskies that got me into single malts. It is a shame the price is becoming ridiculous. A full yet delicate nose. Spicy and fruity palate and a wonderfully lingering finish.

2018.08.03

Overall, comparing the entry of this and hakushu 12, hakushu 12 is still the better choice for me. It seems to be more interesting in the journey and definitely more inspiring as a dram. The yama 12 works as go to drink when u have a company to entertain, but for a dram to enjoy, that hakushu is wat u wanna pour for ur guest with u that has little words and more whisky in the mouth.

A very good beginner's bottle (it was mine), but now that prices for this one have increased to more than what it's worth, there are other better values out there.

An intense whisky that has somewhat changed in the bottle but in my opinion in to better direction. It has lost some of those wood glue notes it had a long time ago when it was first opened.

For half the price, it would be recommended, but 100 € he is not even worth it. He tastes good anyway.

Elegant Japanese with great oak and spiciness. Not to compare with most scottish 12s with 43%.

Fresh, light, bourbon aftertaste, vanilla, greenhouse. Interesting finish

Hm, etwas "overhyped"

https://www.malthead.org/malthead/japan-tasting-mit-yamazaki-12-hakushu-12-und-mehr

Nose: Flowers, honey Taste: Honey, pear, apricot, vanilla, caramel, sea salt, tobacco, pepper, oak

Fruity and nutty nose. A little perfumed ton. A drop of water opens up a little more power. The taste is soft and pretty sweet. Feels hazelnuts and almonds. Good fullness and a good but too short aftertaste. Well balanced and incredibly good! A drop of water opened up a little more spices and for a while in the glass it got a little more woody tones and more of the nuts flavor. Could have had some more power

Getting expensive. But a lovely whisky. Well made and complex. Intriguingly, after watching a Suntory video showing the amazing ice balls etc, I tried it with sparkling water and it was, interestingly enjoyable!

Second passage in jappo whiskys after cousin Hakushu same aging. Light, fresh, perfect, balanced, pure whisky, but without any particular character. Even less unforgettable than Hakushu. On the nose, mainly vanilla biscuits, while on the palate, in addition to biscuits, butter and orange are added. Medium length cinnamon finish. The hideous plasticaccia screw cap is unspeakable for a bottle of this price. Not my cup of tea.

Nose: dried fruits, Taste: buttery, soft, a little honey with cinnamon Finish: smooth sweet

Good whisky with savoury nutty smell and taste but has a disturbing alcohol scent.

Erg lekker

My bottle is labeled, Suntory Single Malt Whisky "Yamazaki", 43% and 75 cl.

Honestly people are just having too high expectation on Japanese whisky. This one, in general, it's too mediocre. The nosing has nothing special, the mouthfeel burns, the texture gets in between oily and watery, the palate it's ok, but that's it. The price for it's quality it's just unreasonable. Like I said, this is a very normal 12yo whisky, with the same price range you may get some excellent even 21yo scotch. If you haven't try this before, try a glass would be enough. Don't bother getting a bottle, it ain't worth it.

I love this Japanese style, smooth and balanced with a bunch of stone fruits.

A great, sweet and easy to handle dram. Does have a bit of complexity and depth with tropical fruits (lychee) and a little dark chocolate or cacao. If you like your whiskies on the sweet side, this one is definitely recommended, even for the price of 60 euro.

Overall great single malt providing an amazing balance of beautiful aromas, taste, and finish