Yamazaki 12 Year Old

Yamazaki 12 Year Old
Whisky Yamazaki 12 Year Old
Country Japan
Type Single Malt
Cask American Oak,Japanese Oak,Sherry
Age 12 years old
Abv 43%
Rating 84/100
Reviews of Yamazaki 12 Year Old
says on August 2, 2023
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 92/100
Finish strength: Very long
Color: Burnished

General description

Number 250 in tasting and the sun also rises...

Nose

Well, here it is at last, unofficially over 250, officially… 250 whiskies tasted… Whoa… The first record I made ‘officially’ was on 30th November 2019 and was a dodgy Laphroaig 10, however, I’ve been ‘sampling’ whiskey since the 90s, but only recently keeping a score, so to speak. So finally, finally, onto the nosing of my 250th whiskey, this time whisky, and a first try at Yamazaki… 12 no less. Here goes… Sherry, definitely, fruit (mildly citrus heading to orange but without the tang or any acidity, just lightly sweet). A nice genteel beginning, with all flavours spinning at the top of the stick… Some smoke, honey, and embers, with a good amount of maltiness in evidence. Maybe, chestnut and cloves, mildly again. Everything is restrained here, nothing overwhelms. Honey is there, perhaps acacia and a touch of caramel.

Palate

To the taste, with the oak and sherry influence, expectations are for vanilla, caramel and maybe raisins… Creamy, smooth, very lightly spiced, and then the fruit as near to an explosion as there could be with something so… evenly made, the fruit suggestive of pineapple or papaya, but definitely tropical in nature. The spice increases with time, but the fruit doesn’t leave, possibly even peach at times. Magnificent in places, this…

Finish

Long to very long, with the fruit holding on amid the spice that just grows and grows. There is a nod towards a rum influence, and this is where the tropical fruit flavours have entered into my thinking. Because of the fruit, I didn’t get to the oakiness, and the very light vanilla and caramel. This is very good, in truth. I have been generally flat-lining with most expensive whiskies I’ve tried, neither brilliant nor terrible, but usually with the thought that the particular dram is no better than one at a fraction of the price, but this Yamazaki deserves the esteem it’s held in, and my score will reflect its quality, ignoring its cost… Well… that was that… A breath, a sip, and on to the next 250!

says on August 25, 2022
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 80/100
Color: Burnished

General description

good taste, but 2 expensive

says on May 12, 2022
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 75/100
Color: Deep copper

General description

Yamazaki is famous, and i have to admit that is part of the reason i bought it. it is pretty smooth but also has that watery aftertaste that one can expect from whiskies. Its nose is subtle but intriguing, however I don't think it is worth its price.

says on November 15, 2021
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 93/100
Color: Gin clear

General description

Really smooth. Honestly tastes like any scotch though

says on March 6, 2021
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 85/100
Color: Gin clear

General description

Geruch: Nelken, fruchtig süßlich
Geschmack: Nelken, Zimt, fruchtig etwas Eiche mglw. auch mizunara
Abgang: weich

says on September 22, 2020
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 76/100
Color: Amber

General description

aroma is sweet and caramel. I found the initial taste bitter, reminiscent of sake. Aftertaste is a very long, pleasant, flower petal impression.

says on June 25, 2020
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 85/100
Finish strength: Medium
Color: Pale gold

General description

Very friendly and mostly caramel, vanilla, and floral. Impressive, friendly, eloquent, hidden complexity. A good dram to enjoy slowly throughout the night.

Nose

Deep caramel, spice from oak, hidden smells of distant flowers in a blooming garden. Lingering in fresh and formal perfume.

Palate

Initially sharp with oak spice, gives way to caramelized malt, vanilla extract, and rose water with other floral notes.

Finish

Finish is medium long, vanilla remains as pollin, flowers, underlining completely I can't identify, almost a slight (but pleasant) soft rubber.

says on June 4, 2020
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 80/100
Color: Deep gold

General description

Easy on the palate. Fruity flavour with a slightly smokey finish.

says on April 20, 2020
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 80/100
Color: Old gold

General description

Woody, Fruit.

says on October 3, 2019
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 90/100
Color: Jonquiripe corn

General description

Fruity, Sweet

says on September 27, 2019
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 88/100
Color: Deep gold

General description

🌈 : Deep Gold
👃 : Sweet and fruity
💋 : Syrupy and full
👅 : Sweet spices and oak
🏁 : Malty and medium in length
🤔 : In one word delicious

says on July 19, 2019
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 80/100
Finish strength: Short
Color: Burnished

General description

lovely and sweet. reminiscent of cognac. lots of orchard fruits.

Nose

grapes, cognac, red apples, sherry

Palate

alcohol vapour, sweet orchard fruits, light

Finish

lightly dry, slight peppery spice

says on May 18, 2019
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 82/100
Color: Amontillado sherry

General description

Sweet caramel smoothness all overm

says on April 21, 2019
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 83/100
Color: Yellow gold

General description

Sherry and orange nose. Refreshing. Reminded me a bit of Glenmorangie Original. Palate is sweet, salty and a bit of spice. Some complexity, fairly delicate. Finish is short.

says on March 6, 2019
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 80/100
Color: Deep gold

General description

Frais, citrus,

says on February 1, 2019
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 70/100
Color: Burnished

General description

Too smooth, but the flavor is nice. Would mix in a cocktail, fight me.

Palate

Sweet

Finish

Smooth

says on November 22, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 84/100
Color: Gin clear

General description

!

says on November 18, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 80/100
Finish strength: Medium
Color: Burnished

General description

Quite sweet. Strong caramel nose.

Nose

Strong. Caramel, fruit.

Palate

Sweet. Brown sugar, tobacco.

Finish

Slightly bitter, tobacco.

says on November 16, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 88/100
Color: Gin clear

General description

-

says on October 28, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 86/100
Color: Gin clear

General description

wow, rice and that great single malt flavor

says on October 14, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 93/100
Color: Deep copper

General description

smooth and flavorful

says on October 14, 2018
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 84/100
Color: Russetmuscat

General description

almost too smooth. to me, this is very pure in taste, some dried fruit, Sherry cask taste.

says on October 13, 2018
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 85/100
Color: Chestnutoloroso sherry

General description

sweet and fruity

says on October 5, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 82/100
Color: Amber

General description

This is what got me interested in whiskey. It will always have a special place in my heart.

says on October 4, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 91/100
Color: Deep copper

General description

Ik zou een lange review kunnen typen maar het komt neer op. wow!! wat een top whisky.
Zeker het geld waard.

says on September 24, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 85/100
Color: Old gold

General description

soft, smooth, fruity

says on September 11, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 70/100
Color: Gin clear

General description

testé au porter house

says on April 14, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 83/100
Finish strength: Medium
Color: Gin clear

General description

Very well balanced whiskey, almost to a fault. nothing really sticks out but the flavors come out as you sit with it.

Nose

sweet, fruit, floral, oak

Palate

Smooth, citrus, rum, sweetness, tropical fruit

Finish

Fruit, orange

says on April 8, 2018
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 90/100
Color: Tawny

General description

strong smell and flavour. good for after meal

says on April 8, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 84/100
Color: Deep copper

General description

Citrus, oak, spice, pear on the nose. Flavors of pear, spice, honey, oak, brown sugar.

says on March 23, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 88/100
Color: Burnished

General description

Crisp refreshing whisky

says on March 8, 2018
Would you buy this again? No
Rating: 85/100
Color: Amber

General description

A very "plain" whisky, delicate, without any distinctive high points. nose is soft pastel flowers, body a very light highland scotch, finish is short and dry

says on February 14, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 86/100
Finish strength: Short
Color: Gin clear

General description

Solid tasteful malt.

says on February 8, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 71/100
Color: Pale staw

General description

typical scotch taste

says on January 29, 2018
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 88/100
Finish strength: Medium
Color: Chestnutoloroso sherry

General description

Delicately sherried nose with hints of fruit, nuts, and honey. Very smooth going down with traces of plums, sherry and honey on the palate. Finish is slightly sweet and produces some mild heat. A pleasant whisky to keep around. Slightly more expensive than other 12 yr single malts but worth the price.

Nose

sherry, fruit, nuts, honey

Palate

sherry and honey

Finish

sweet with mild heat

says on October 18, 2017
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 91/100
Color: Amber

General description

It's well worth the $

says on March 15, 2017
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 87/100
Finish strength: Long
Color: Amber

General description

Copper/ gold aspect. Pungent on the nose but smooth prunes and dry grassy taste. Warm finish

says on February 26, 2017
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 87/100
Color: Amber

General description

Sweety and fruity on the palate. Very good.

says on February 14, 2017
Would you buy this again? Yes
Rating: 90/100
Color: Russetmuscat

General description

Speaks very good French for a Japanese whisky.

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Flavour profile

  • Fruit
  • Sweet
  • Oak
  • Malt
  • Honey
  • Good
  • Delicate
  • Vanilla
  • Smooth
  • Spice
  • Medium length
  • Sherry
  • Citrus
  • Lovely
  • Nut
  • Great
  • Elegant
  • Complex
  • Clean
  • Unusual
  • Tropical
  • Medium finish
  • Floral
  • Caramel
  • Smoky
Show more flavours

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