Yamazaki Whisky is dedicated to crafting world-class whiskies that reflect the delicate tastes of Japan. The distillery utilizes a wide variety of brewing equipment, enabling the production of a wide range of whiskies. Yamazaki utilizes both wooden barrels and stainless steel tanks for fermentation, but the company primarily utilizes wooden barrels for fermentation, allowing lactic acid bacteria to fully develop and produce a richer, more flavorful mash. Furthermore, the distilleries themselves are key to the unique character of Yamazaki's whiskies. With a variety of stills in various shapes and sizes, including steam-heated and direct-fired stills, Yamazaki is able to create a wide range of whiskies. Another distinctive feature of Yamazaki's distilling is the oak barrels used for aging. Yamazaki utilizes a variety of oak casks of varying sizes and materials. In addition to the more common American bourbon oak and sherry casks, Yamazaki also uses its own Mizunara oak casks. Made from Mizunara trees over 200 years old in Hokkaido, Hokkaido, these casks impart elegant and captivating oriental notes, such as sandalwood, to the spirit.
In 1984, Yamazaki released its first single malt whisky, The Yamazaki Aged 12 Years Single Malt Japanese Whisky, marking the company's first single malt whisky from Japan. The whisky won a gold medal at the 2003 International Spirits Challenge, becoming the first Japanese whisky to do so. Subsequently, Yamazaki released releases such as the Yamazaki Aged 18 Years Single Malt Japanese Whisky and the Yamazaki Aged 25 Years Single Malt Japanese Whisky, both of which have also received numerous awards and acclaim at major international spirits competitions. The Yamazaki Aged 18 Years Single Malt Japanese Whisky won double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition from 2008 to 2010, while the Yamazaki Aged 25 Years Single Malt Japanese Whisky was named "World's Best Single Malt Whisky" at the 2012 World Whiskies Awards.
Bottled in 2020, Yamazaki 55 is Suntory's oldest release, paying homage to the founding family of Japanese whisky and celebrating Japan's Showa era of the 1960s. A bottle of 55-year-old single malt whisky, Yamazaki 55 Years Old, sold under the hammer for HK$6.2 million (approximately US$800,000 including premium), setting a new record for a single bottle of Japanese whisky. Yamzaki 55 is a rare blend of single malt whiskies, distilled in 1960 under the supervision of Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii, then aged in Mizunara casks; and finished in white oak barrels in 1964 under the guidance of Suntory's second Master Blender, Keizo Saji. Suntory's fifth-generation Master Blender, Shinji Fukuyo, collaborated closely with third-generation Master Blender, Shingo Torii, to create their signature blending art, resulting in Yamzaki 55 of remarkable depth, complexity, and wisdom.
