The Yamazaki Distillery (Japanese: 山崎蒸溜所, Hepburn: Yamazaki jōryūsho) is a prominent Japanese whisky distillery situated in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Established in 1923, it holds the distinction of being Japan's first commercial malt whisky distillery. Owned and operated by Suntory, the distillery is renowned for its diverse range of whiskies and holds a significant place in the history of Japanese whisky production.

History

Founded in 1923 by Torii Shinjirō, the Yamazaki Distillery was a pioneering venture aimed at producing high-quality whisky in Japan. Torii, the founder and chairman of Kotobukiya (predecessor of Suntory), envisioned creating a serious whisky, leading to the recruitment of Taketsuru Masataka as the factory director in 1924. Taketsuru, hailing from a sake brewing family with deep roots, had studied Scotch whisky production firsthand in Scotland and brought this expertise to Yamazaki.

Under Taketsuru's direction, the distillery produced its first whisky in 1929, known as "shirofuda" (白札, English: white label). However, due to differences with Torii, Taketsuru departed Yamazaki in 1934 to establish his own whisky distillery, Nikka Whisky Distilling, in Hokkaido.

Production and Facilities

Yamazaki Distillery initially started with one pair of pot stills and gradually expanded over the years. By 1958, it had added two additional pot stills, bringing the total to six pairs. In 1969, the distillery discontinued floor malting and transitioned to mechanical malting using Wander-Hahfen systems until 1972. The peat used in production was imported from Scotland, maintaining a traditional approach to whisky making.

Throughout its history, Yamazaki has undergone several renovations and periods of closure, including a significant two-year closure in 1987-88 when three pairs of stills were replaced or reduced in size. In September 2005, the distillery temporarily closed again for renovations, during which six pot stills were replaced with smaller ones sourced from Forsyths (UK) and Miyake (Japan). Yamazaki resumed operations in February 2006, equipped with enhanced production capabilities and modernized facilities.

Currently, Yamazaki Distillery features a blend of worm tubs and shell and tube condensers, reflecting a mix of traditional and contemporary production methods. It boasts its own cooperage for cask maintenance and has two mash tuns to support its whisky production process.

In March 2013, Yamazaki further expanded its operations with the installation of two new pairs of pot stills, demonstrating its commitment to quality and innovation in whisky production.

Whisky Offerings

Yamazaki is celebrated for its diverse range of whisky offerings, including:

• Yamazaki Single Malt 12-Year-Old
• Yamazaki Single Malt 18-Year-Old
• Yamazaki Single Malt 25-Year-Old
• Additional expressions such as 10-year-old, 25-year-old, 35-year-old, and 50-year-old whiskies, as well as vintages like 1980, 1984, and 1993, and various Puncheon and sherry cask finishes.

Recognition and Awards

Yamazaki whiskies have garnered significant acclaim in global spirits competitions. The Yamazaki 18-Year-Old, for instance, received six consecutive double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competitions from 2008 to 2013. The Yamazaki 25-Year-Old was honored as the "Best Japanese Single Malt" at the 2013 World Whisky Awards, and the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was named "World Whisky of the Year" in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015.

The Yamazaki Distillery continues to uphold its legacy of excellence, blending Japanese craftsmanship with time-honored whisky-making traditions to produce some of the world's most revered single malt whiskies