Yamazaki 18 Years Old 43% NV

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

Another expression that I haven’t tried since 2005 or 2006… But I always loved the 18. Colour: amber. Nose: ah yes, now I remember why I always loved the 18. Perfect balance between richness and sleekness, with myriads of tiny aromas that make it very complex. Many herbs (mint and eucalyptus as often but also sage, rosemary, touches of camphor…) then many fruits, most dried (dates, sultanas), then fabulous whiffs of old pu-erh tea (humus and leather), then old rum, maple syrup, jams… Oh well, it’s really fantastic. Mouth: perfect body even after a whisky that was stronger, with an oiliness, some tea, a little leather, cardamom, other spices, sherry… Granted, it’s probably a little oaky and tannic but it can stand that. Also bitter oranges, ‘green‘ spices, more tea, cinnamon… Finish: medium long, with more berries. Blackcurrants and rich pipe tobacco. Comments: I guess it’s hard to make much more out of 18yo and 43% vol.

Words of Whisky (89)

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Color
Burnished
Nose
Very, very condensed at first, but with plenty of glue and nail polish remover. Very characteristic for Japanese whiskies. Or so I've been told :) If you give it time in the glass, it will reward you. Lots of green banana, brown sugar, red apple. Also mango, apricot, dates and raisins. Some sweet rum, peach and a hint of soy. Very complex. Big thumbs up!

Taste
Tobacco and cinnamon, along with some cloves. The nose is sweeter than the palate appears to be. Coffee, nutmeg and bitter orange. Creamy and mouth coating with some tannins.

Finish
Long, meaty and dry with some wood spices.

Comments
That nose! Wow, very good. The palate is a bit more pedestrian though. But it can't be denied that this is a very good whisky. Just shy of scoring 90 points in my book.