Founded in 1923, the Yamazaki distillery – named after the Yamazaki Valley, where the distillery lays – is the oldest distillery in Japan. And that, I’m afraid, is pretty much all the history I could find. I suppose that leaves us with little choice but to go straight for the tasting. Ah, life can be tough at times, wouldn’t you say?

I was actually given the miniature bottle standing in front of me by the owner of my favourite whisky shop. We were talking, as we often do, about various whiskys and our latest tastings, and as it happens he had just tried the Yamazaki and quite liked it. A fairly delicate, medium bodied whiskey, this 12 year old expression has many qualities in common with Scotch whiskys. It brings to mind its Speyside brethren in particular.

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