The Essence of Suntory Whisky Yamazaki 12 Year Old Golden Promise (50cl, 53%)

This is a 12 year old single malt from the Yamazaki distillery in Japan, bottled at 53% ABV in a 50cl bottle. It is the fifth release in The Essence of Suntory Whisky series and was launched on 31 August 2021. Every malt in the bottle was made from Golden Promise barley, a variety once widely grown in Scotland and now rare. It is the first Suntory release built around this barley. The label design takes its inspiration from the Japanese character for wheat. The nose is gentle, with sweet cereal and honey. The palate is rich and viscous, with honeyed sweetness, a subtle tartness and real depth. The finish is creamy and long, with sweetness and acidity interplaying.