12 years. Single Malt. Yamazaki the entry-level aged expression from Japans oldest malt whisky distillery, triple-cask matured in American oak, Spanish sherry oak, and Mizunara Japanese oak to produce the layered, fruit-forward character that introduced millions of collectors to Japanese single malt.

The Yamazaki Distillery was established by Shinjiro Torii in 1923 in the valley between the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers near Kyoto a location chosen for its misty, humid microclimate that produces slower, more gentle spirit maturation than the drier Scottish Highland environment. The 12 Year Old is the distillerys benchmark expression, drawing on the three-cask maturation philosophy that is Yamazakis signature: American oak for vanilla and coconut, Spanish sherry oak for dried fruit and richness, and Mizunara Japanese oak for the incense, sandalwood, and coconut character unique to wood grown in Japans northern forests.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Peach, pineapple, grapefruit, clove, candied orange
• Palate: Raspberry, cranberry, clove, vanilla, Mizunara spice
• Finish: Gentle, lingering fruit and spice

Specs

• Distillery: Yamazaki Distillery, Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan (est. 1923)
• Style: Japanese Single Malt Whisky
• Age: 12 years
• Maturation: American oak, Spanish sherry oak, Mizunara Japanese oak
• ABV: 43%
• Size: 750ml

Browse all Yamazaki at Wooden Cork or explore our Japanese whisky collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Mizunara oak and why does it matter? Mizunara (Japanese oak) grows only in Hokkaido and takes over 200 years to reach barrel-making size. It imparts incense, sandalwood, and coconut character that has no equivalent in American or European oak a flavor profile unique to Japanese whisky.
• How does the Yamazaki 12 Year compare to the 18 Year also in the collection? The 12 Year is fruitier and lighter more vibrant grain and fresh fruit character. The 18 Year adds six additional years of oak integration across the same three cask types, producing deeper sherry, dried fruit, and Mizunara complexity. The 12 is the entry point; the 18 is the apex of the standard age-stated range.
• Why is Japanese whisky limited in supply? Japanese distilleries aged their stock to meet projected domestic demand in the 1980s90s. The unexpected global boom of the 2010s depleted aged inventory faster than production could replenish it. Many expressions were discontinued entirely; those that remain carry allocation constraints.

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