Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve

NOSE: Sweet vanilla with fresh flowers. White wine. Then strooong oak and dry leaves and ash. Custard, maybe. Very refined. TASTE: Clean and smooth. Like biting into a fresh strawberry. Oak and red wine tannins are there. FINISH: Oily and smooth, develops some turmeric and cinnamon, leaves you with sweet strawberry at the end! OVERALL: Floral and fresh strawberries make a light yet sophisticated drinking whiskey. Improves flavors with a drop of water.

Absolutely amazing, great fruity taste with a soft kick on the way down

Sweet fruits and hints of smoke on the nose, sweet, heavy stewed plums and peaches on the palate with vanilla and spices following. Creamy mouthfeel and a relatively short finish.

Thanks to a blind tasting flight challenge sent to me by @Generously_Paul I was able to sample this NAS Yamazaki whisky. I don’t have the typical notes I like to take as I was more tuned in towards trying to identify the differences between 5 different whiskies and spirits. This one stood out particularly because of the different types of wood they use in Japan. Sandalwood and Mizunara oak offer a very different take on the aromatics. More tropical and fruity flavors come through on the palate as well. This is very different than most scotches and provides an awesome take on single malts. This is easily a 3.75-4 star Yamazaki, even though it’s a NAS. It’s pretty close to the 12yo, but still miles away from the 18. At the price point of $65-70 though- it’s a pretty good deal if you can find it. Thanks again, Paul. Cheers.

This was sent as a blind tasting challenge by my motor city buddy @Generously_Paul sent 5 samples. I guessed 3 right, and named this one precisely as Yamazaki Distiller ( the sandalwood aroma gave it away). I’m a huge fan of Yamazaki. Their 18 is my top 3-4 single malts. This has that classic Asian temple sandlewood aroma, followed by a nutty hazelnut flavor. Well made, as expected out of Yamazaki