BlimpsGo90
Yamazaki 12 Year
Single Malt — Japan
Reviewed
February 28, 2021 (edited February 28, 2022)
Neat. Sample. My experience with Japanese whiskey is slim. Nikka Straight from the Barrel is the only one I own (and gone through a few bottles). Excited to explore this sample.
What impresses me about this nose is the immediate depth and balance. Lovely sweet oak, honey comb, apple, maple syrup, caramel, hint of chocolate. Really fun to explore. Like stepping into a local, independent candy makers shop and just being overwhelmed with amazing fragrances.
Nice, oily mouth feel. Very sweet immediately. Vanilla, honey and apple. The honey is pretty consistent across the experience. Yeah, it really matches the nose mid palate and into the finish. Caramel, butterscotch, honey, apple with this underlying oak wrapped around it like a blanket.
Just quite lovely. Hard to imagine a better dram for this Sunday afternoon as I have a quiet moment taking in some sun staring out the window.
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@BDanner Given some of the ‘exoplanet level’ pricing for some of these whiskies, you could do worse than a bottle of Nikka From The Barrel - absolutely enjoying mine.
@PBMichiganWolverine wow. that’s why I ask. I bought the 12 many moons ago for about $60, which at that time, seemed high, for a 12 year old whiskey.
@Scott_E i thought the Hibiki 12 and 17 were discontinued. Replaced by Hibiki Harmony. Hibiki 12, which I bought for $40 years ago, is now $700. SO NOT WORTH IT.
@bigwhitemike thanks. Was actually curious about the Hibiki 12 (sorry for the lack of clarity).
@Scott_E To chime in - maybe SoCal is inflated but the cheapest I’ve seen the 12 in the last 2-3 yrs is $199. Much more common to see it at $249 or $299. Seems outrageous but I’d still snatch it up in a second if I saw for $130...
@Scott_E if your lucky you can find yama12 between 100 and 130. Pennsylvania state run has it for $125 online at the moment which all told isn’t the worst if you just have to try it. No idea what secondary runs but it likely ain’t worth it by a long shot.
@PBMichiganWolverine out of curiosity, what is the 12 running for these days?
@Scott_E hell no it’s not worth it. Fortunately I had paid $80 for the Yamazaki 18 and about $120 for the Hibiki 21
@PBMichiganWolverine insane. inflated, mostly for because of bragging rights, amongst other market forces. But honestly, not worth a honest working dollar, generally speaking. (Disclaimer: These views are my own and solely my own).
@Scott_E I so stand corrected. 3 years ago I guess the Hibiki was $900 and the Yamazaki 18 was $400. I just did a quick search. Today it’s $1300 for the Hibiki and $900 for the Yamazaki. That’s just plain silly price. Was silly before, but even more so now
@Scott_E yeah you’re right —between the two, I liked the Hibiki 21 better ...but my god, that price...about $900!!!
@PBMichiganWolverine Hibiki 21 you provided was crusher too. Haven’t had the 18 to compare, but that 21 I will always remember.
On a very special occasion, you gotta try Yamazaki 18. It’ll change the definition of “great whisky”
Nikka SFTB is high on my list of things to try next. Like you, I really enjoyed Yamazaki 12. Nice review.