YAMAZAKI: The Worlds Best Single Malt Whisky?

When one thinks of Single malt whisky, Japan is often the last country that comes to mind. Or is it? Japan is actually the second biggest producer of single malt whisky in the world. And according to Whisky Magazine, Japanese whisky continued its dominance of World Whiskies Awards this 2012; with Suntory scooping one of the top titles and Nikka securing the blended malt title for the fourth year running. Who knew?

The Japanese have excelled at not only distilling whisky, but also putting it on the map as a global front runner along side countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, USA and Wales. The World Whiskies Awards is open to proprietary bottlings and exists to inform and educate consumers throughout the world about whisky.


Some have rated it from superb to mediocre. In terms of price, between 2009 and 2012 the price of each bottle has ranged from 700 to 1100 dollars a bottle! Chris Bunting, author of the book Drinking Japan: A Guide to Japan's Best Drinks and Drinking Establishments gave the following review:

 Nose: like a nice breakfast with a hangover - rich jams and Weetabix, with the heavy wines and ports from the night before still on the breath. In the mouth, you are immediately manhandled by dark jams, red wines and tannins. There is a lot of vanilla and wood in there with a delicious memory of quietly opening my mother's kitchen cupboard for a twisted spoonful of Lyle's black treacle. Later on, it dries in the mouth. Some very good judges of whisky have been underwhelmed by this Yamazaki. I enjoyed it.

Yamazaki, the name makes the decision for you!