T he Yamazaki 55 Year Old needs little introduction. It sits at the pinnacle of collectible Japanese Whisky as not only the oldest but also the most valuable bottle in the country’s history.

With only 100 bottles initially available in Japan, and 100 more following for the rest of the World, this extremely limited bottling caused a monumental stir amongst Japanese whisky collectors and enthusiasts upon its release into the market in 2020.

The story begins almost 100 years ago when Shinjiro Torii opened The Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first ever Single Malt producer, on the outskirts of Kyoto. At this time nobody could have anticipated the quality of the whiskies Suntory would go on to produce, nor the values that their bottles would command at auction.

The distillery has gone on to be recognized worldwide and garner critical acclaim for its range of whiskies, particularly its 18 and 25 Year Old malts. Due to foresight and careful stock management under the watchful eye of the Chief Blenders at Yamazaki, some casks have left to mature further still, with the distillery having released both 35 and 50 Year Old expressions in recent years.

The Yamazki 55 Year Old, the oldest Japanese Single Malt ever released, was vatted from Mizunara and American White Oak casks distilled by Shinjiro Torii in 1960 and 1964 respectively, and laid down over half a century ago for three generations, until current Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo, Grandson of the founder, selected and blended these casks to create a true masterpiece.

Housed in an immaculate black Mizunara box, reflecting the casks used to age this historic whisky, the bottle is wrapped in layers of ink-black handmade echizen washi paper and fastened with a plaited cord made up of 24 individual strands.

COLOR
Deep amber distinctive of Mizunara casks.

NOSE
A robust aroma redolent of sandal wood. A sweet, mature bouquet like well-ripened fruit.

PALATE
A soft, smooth first sip that blossoms in the mouth with flavor. A mixture of sweet and slightly bitter, followed by a woody note from the Mizunara cask.

FINISH
Slightly bitter, a fragrance like scented wood and a hint of smokiness. A sweet, rich, lingering finish