About Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 Edition Single Malt Whisky

The Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 is made from 100% malted barley, which is milled and mashed before being fermented with water sourced from the foothills of Mount Tenno. The water is said to be have been preferred by Sen No Rikyu, Japan’s legendary tea master. After the barley has been fermented, the wash is distilled through Suntory’s copper-pot stills — the first of their kind outside of Scotland — before the whisky is aged in casks which used to hold oloroso sherry giving it a rich and fruity taste profile.

“This is all done by hand — the traditional way,” says Osamu Abe, the manager of Yamazaki distillery, referring to the cooperage taking place at the distillery. “This is called yagura — craftsmanship. You must watch and listen to how they’re made. In Japan, we say “use all 5 senses.” Of course we learn from others, but our own senses are key.

Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was named “Whisky of the Year” by Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible.