Yamazaki 25 YO

Yamazaki 25 YO, 43 %

Yesterday I reviewed the peated flagship single malt from Suntory distillery in Japan. Today I turn my nose and palate to the unpeated Yamazaki 25 YO.

It is near impossible to find the Yamazaki 25 YO for sale online these days. The few places that still have a few bottles in stock are charging up to USD 3000 for a bottle! Yikes! Even without tasting the whisky I can tell you it is not worth that price, unless you have way more money than you need.

Nose (24/25): Oh yes! We have a near perfect sherry-matured whisky nose here! Crème brûlée, vanilla, caramel, baked apples dripping melted sugar, plums, raisins, apricots... It's a veritable sherried fruit garden. I also find mahogany, and a mild nuttiness. Dark, rich and complex.

Taste (23/25): Whoa, I was expecting the fruits, but here come the berries! Very distinct blackcurrant! Coca-cola - without the fizziness. Dry oakiness. Then the sherry fruits make their entrance, and they are all here. Again dark, rich and complex.

Finish (22/25): Fruit caramels, so the fruitiness is a bit lighter now. Sweet, iced coffee. Slightly acidic on the finish, a bit more dry as well. Warm and lingering - close to never-ending.

Balance (23/25): This is a whisky with an incredible depth. The massive berries on the taste had me wondering for a moment, but my doubts were without merit. Be warned though, this is a heavy, dark and rich whisky. It might very well be too much for many of you, in all it's intense insistence.

Score (92/100)

Image from Dekanta.

Sláinte! - Thomas