Casks seasoned with peated malt spirit the 2022 edition of Yamazaki’s smoke-influenced Rare Cask expression. Peat and smoke meeting the characteristic softness of Yamazaki’s Shimamoto distillate in a combination essentially unique to Japanese whisky.

Japan produces both peated and unpeated malt whisky Suntory distills peated spirit alongside the standard Yamazaki distillate, maintaining the flexibility to incorporate smoke into its maturation program. The Peated Malt expression in the Rare Cask series uses casks that previously held peated malt spirit, transferring the phenolic compounds the smoky, peaty character associated with heavily peated Scotch whisky into the Yamazaki distillate during maturation.

The result is a Yamazaki with a distinctly different character from the standard range: the distillery’s characteristic fruit softness and refinement combined with a layer of smoke and peat that no other cask type can provide. This is not Yamazaki trying to be Islay it is Yamazaki’s approach to smoke, which retains the elegance and polish of the distillery’s profile while adding the peated dimension.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Rich amber with depth from peated cask contact.
• Nose: Smoke and peat weaving through Yamazaki’s characteristic fruit and vanilla a combination that is distinctively Japanese rather than Scottish in its expression.
• Palate: The Yamazaki softness carrying the peated character smoke, dried fruit, and a refined complexity that distinguishes this from heavily peated Scotch expressions.
• Finish: Long with lingering smoke and the characteristic Yamazaki warmth peated and Japanese at the same time.

Specs

• Distillery: Yamazaki, Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan (est. 1923)
• Category: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
• Cask: Peated malt spirit-seasoned casks
• Release: 2022 Rare Cask Series
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full Yamazaki collection or browse all Japanese whisky at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Yamazaki normally produce peated whisky? Suntory distills both peated and unpeated malt at its facilities, maintaining flexibility to incorporate smoke at various points in the maturation program. The Peated Malt Rare Cask uses casks previously seasoned with peated spirit rather than peated distillate in the Yamazaki still a cask-influence approach to smoke rather than a distillate approach.
• How does this compare to Islay Scotch? Heavily peated Islay whiskies (Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Octomore) achieve peat levels of 30300+ ppm through heavily peated barley in distillation. The Yamazaki Peated Malt achieves its smoke through cask seasoning a gentler, more refined expression of peat that retains the distillery’s characteristic softness and fruit alongside the smoke.
• How does the Peated Malt compare to the Puncheon and Mizunara 2022 editions? Three different cask characters: Puncheon = vanilla and caramel from large-format American oak. Mizunara = incense and spice from Japanese oak. Peated Malt = smoke and peat from peated spirit-seasoned casks. Together they document the range of Yamazaki’s cask capabilities.
• Is the Peated Malt 2022 still available? 1 unit in current stock.

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