About this whisky

The Yamazaki distillery sits between Kyoto and Osaka, where three rivers meet and the soft, mist-laden air has been prized since long before whisky arrived. Suntory calls it Japan's first and oldest malt distillery, and it is where the story of Japanese whisky began. Distiller's Reserve brings together malts aged in American oak, Spanish oak sherry casks and Japan's own Mizunara oak, which is rare and difficult to work with and gives a distinctive fragrance often compared to sandalwood and temple incense.

In the glass it is bright and fruity: strawberry and cherry on the nose with a hint of Mizunara, then raspberry, white peach and a touch of coconut on the palate, finishing with sweet vanilla and cinnamon. It is elegant neat and wonderful in a highball. It arrived in India at the end of 2019, and it makes a refined gift for someone who already enjoys Scotch and would like to discover how Japan approaches single malt.

Key facts

• From Yamazaki, which Suntory describes as Japan's first and oldest malt distillery
• Blends malts aged in American oak, Spanish oak (sherry) and Japanese Mizunara oak
• Bottled at 43%
• Launched in India by The House of Suntory at the end of 2019

Tasting notes

Nose:

Strawberry, cherry and fragrant Mizunara oak

Palate:

Raspberry, white peach, a touch of coconut and cinnamon

Finish:

Clean, with sweet vanilla and a hint of cinnamon

Serve

Neat or with a few drops of water; or as a highball: 45 ml over ice in a chilled tall glass, topped with chilled soda and a twist of lemon.

Food pairing

Beautiful with sushi, yakitori or tempura, and with delicate Bengali fare like doi maach or chingri malai curry.