About this product
The 18 Year Old is Suntory's most commercially available premium expression and consistently appears on lists of the world's greatest whiskies. Six more years of maturation add significant sherry cask influence, Mizunara oak character (sandalwood, coconut), and a depth of dried fruit complexity that the 12 Year Old hints at but cannot fully achieve. It won 'Best Single Malt' at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition multiple times. The production quantity is severely limited — most bottles are allocated to Japan and select global markets through restricted distribution.
Tasting profile
Dried fruit (fig, raisin), dark chocolate, incense, sandalwood, dried orange peel
Pairing intelligence
complement
casual
Yamazaki 18's mizunara elegance bridges the shio koji sea bream; both are Japanese expressions of refinement and patience
classic
main
complement
celebration
Yamazaki 18's prestige complexity bridges the Wagyu teppanyaki; Japan's most celebrated whisky for Japan's most celebrated beef
classic
celebration
complement
casual
Yamazaki 18's depth bridges the Kyoto duck soba; both are expressions of Japanese refinement with complexity earned over time
classic
main
complement
chocolate_confection
The bitter cacao and dried fruit of 70% dark chocolate mirrors and amplifies the dried fig, raisin, and dark chocolate notes of the sherried Yamazaki 18.
classic
dessert
complement
cheese
Yamazaki 18's deep oak bridges the aged Boerenkaas; the caramel walnut echoes the whisky's own sweet oak register
classic
cheese
complement
dessert
Yamazaki 18's chocolate-orange complexity bridges the aged dark chocolate; an aged Japanese whisky for a dark confection
established
dessert
complement
casual
Yamazaki 18's rich complexity bridges the duck with plum; both carry a warm Japanese aromatic depth
established
main