"The entire modern Japanese whisky industry is truly the attempt by a single man to recreate a little slice of Scotland back in Japan." As a person interested in Japanese culture, this only captures my imagination. That is why I own (at least) a bottle from every Suntory distillery. This means that I can compare the "Yamazaki 12" (sample of 6 cl) side-by-side with the "Distiller's Reserve" (of which I own a bottle). Nose - Less fruity than the "Distiller's Reserve" (which has lots of red fruit). The nose of this whisky is clearly more complex and more mature, with more emphasis on honey, citrus and cinnamon in addition to the red fruit. I also get vanilla, caramel, apple and sherry. Palate - Sweet and sour. The first few sips were sharp, but softened as I gave the whisky the necessary time to open up. Light mouthfeel that became more creamy and buttery the longer I held it in my mouth. Finish - Medium long and dry. Especially sweet and sour, like green apples. Also slightly peppery in the aftertaste. A few drops of water emphasizes this peppery note even more. By comparing these two whisky's side by side, I am not surprised that the 12 year old Yamazaki is the logical successor to the "Distiller's Edition". This whisky clearly had more time to mature and to develop different accents. Due to the scarcity, the price of this whisky has risen disproportionately. Despite the fact that I think this whisky is delicious, I believe that there are other whisky's within this price range that are more worth your hard-earned money. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful whisky that is definitely worth trying. If, like me, you can get hold of a sample, you are certainly not going to regret it. "Excellent" : 4 stars | Really quite exceptional.