Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara 100th Anniversary Edition Single Malt Japanese Whisky 48% 700ml

One of the most coveted Japanese whisky releases of the modern era, this expression was created to mark the centenary of Suntory Whisky in 2023 — a milestone celebrated with a single malt matured exclusively in Japanese Mizunara oak for a minimum of eighteen years. Where the standard Yamazaki 18 uses Mizunara as a supporting note within a largely sherried profile, this anniversary edition lets that rare native oak take the lead from start to finish, showcasing the temple-incense character that has come to define the soul of Japanese whisky. Released in a strictly limited run of around 2,000 bottles and bottled at an elevated 48% ABV to express the full depth of the wood, it is an extraordinarily scarce centennial artifact.

Mizunara is notoriously difficult to work with — porous, prone to leaks and demanding decades of patient maturation to reveal its finest character — which makes a fully Mizunara-aged 18-year-old a genuine feat of cooperage and blending. Reddish amber in the glass and endorsed by critics worldwide, this is a landmark collector's whisky and a defining statement of the Yamazaki house style at its most distinctly, unmistakably Japanese.

Tasting Notes
The nose is rich and elegant, leading with dark cherry and ripe peach lifted by cinnamon, nutmeg and the signature sandalwood-and-incense fragrance of Mizunara, over subtle vanilla and candied orange. The palate is luxuriously oily and warming — subtly spiced candied orange and dark chocolate woven through clove, persimmon, dried apricot and toasted coconut, all underpinned by aromatic temple-wood spice. The finish is exceptionally long and lingering, accentuated with clove, sandalwood and hints of dried coconut.

Serves Best With
A whisky of this rarity and Mizunara complexity should only ever be enjoyed neat, in a tulip glass that concentrates its aromatic incense and spice. Give it time to breathe and add at most a single drop of water to draw out the sandalwood and dark fruit. No food pairing is needed — this is a contemplative, collector-grade dram to be savoured slowly and entirely on its own.