The Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve 100th Anniversary Edition is a limited release celebrating a century of whisky-making at Japan’s oldest malt whisky distillery. Positioned as an accessible yet complex expression within the Yamazaki range, it showcases the distillery’s signature character while offering a refined take on its classic style.

Crafted from 100% malted barley, this single malt is distilled at the Yamazaki Distillery, located on the outskirts of Kyoto. The water used comes from the Rikyū no Mizu—Water of the Imperial Villa—a natural spring that has long been prized for its purity and soft mineral content, contributing to the whisky’s smooth texture.

The whisky is aged in a selection of casks, including American oak, Spanish oak sherry casks, and Japanese Mizunara oak. Each cask type imparts distinct characteristics—American oak brings vanilla and honeyed sweetness, sherry casks add rich dried fruit and spice, and Mizunara oak introduces incense-like notes with a touch of sandalwood.

On the palate, this expression delivers red berries, Mizunara spice, and a gentle oak influence, with a balanced and lingering finish. Designed to honor Yamazaki’s legacy, the 100th Anniversary Edition highlights the craftsmanship that have defined the distillery for a century, making it a collector’s item and a tribute to Japan’s whisky heritage.

Tasting notes

On the Nose

Fresh berries and orchard fruits, with subtle notes of vanilla, soft smoke, and a touch of Mizunara oak incense.

On the Palate

Delicate and refined, with layers of red apple, honey, and light spice. Hints of cranberry and soft oak emerge mid-palate.

The Finish

Clean and elegant, fading into sweet fruit, gentle spice, and lingering floral undertones.

About Yamazaki

Nestled at the foot of the serene Ōi Mountains in Kyoto, the Yamazaki Distillery, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii, stands as Japan’s first and most revered whisky distillery. Owned by the legendary whisky house Suntory, it draws on the pure, pristine waters of the surrounding mountains, which infuse its whiskies with an unmatched clarity and character. 

Yamazaki is celebrated for its delicate, multifaceted expressions, where the artful blending of fruit, oak, and soft smokiness creates a symphony of flavors. With casks of American oak, sherry, and rare Japanese Mizunara oak, Yamazaki has shaped the Japanese whisky industry, earning a cherished place in the hearts of whisky connoisseurs around the world.

Suntory is the oldest whisky making company in Japan. Its origins stretch back to a small shop, started in 1899 by Torii Shinjiro, which specialized in selling imported wines.