Yamazaki Distillery Exclusive Spanish Oak Peated Malt Review

In-Depth Review

If I’m being honest, this feels like a niche bottle to review. Found only at Yamazaki Distillery located just outside of Kyoto, this small 200ml distillery only release from Suntory may only be seen by a handful of English speakers every day. You can thank a combination of: a lottery system for tours, VERY limited number of English-speaking tours, and reservations needed to even access the gift shop for the rarity. But if you are one of the lucky few to visit Yamazaki and have the chance to spend $25 for this 200ml of Yamazaki malt, I’m doing this review for you. For that price, you get something bottled at 48% ABV, is non-chill filtered, and features peated malt aged in Spanish Oak. Sounds like a great combination on paper, but let’s dive in and see if it’s worth making (a little) room in your bag for.

I will also note that this is currently available (as of September 2025) in the distillery tasting bar to sample.

 Age: Non-Age Stated

ABV: 48%

Cask: Spanish Oak (likely sherry)

MSRP: $25 (200ml)

Distillery Name: Yamazaki Distillery

Review Date: 10/18/25

Color: Deep caramel with a slight red hue

Nose: First impressions on the nose remind me of freshly dumped sherry. There’s a full bouquet of fruit on the front that rushes in before mellowing out with notes of sandalwood and roast almonds. As it settles, there’s a rich umami character coming from the mixture of sherry sweetness and clean white smoke. It’s a lovely nose that might challenge those who are used to the light, fruity character of Yamazaki’s flagship malts.  

Palate: On the first sip it’s immediately clear that there’s a much stronger smoke character here than the nose would lead you to believe. The palate starts with a strong minerality coming from sea air, cured meats, and a thick layer of white smoke before giving way to red peeled fruits, cherrywood and Pine Sol. The mouthfeel is nice and round with a touch more heat coming from that 48%. The heat accentuates the lovely interplay between sweet and smokey by throwing a dollop of spice into the mix.

Finish: Medium length finish that features a drier smoke that borders on ashy. The fruit completely disappears and is replaced by barrel char, mint, and more smoked meats. It sticks to the side of the mouth and gently leaves behind a nice drying character.   

Final Thoughts: Let’s get it out of the way – if you are looking for a similar experience to Yamazaki 12 or 18, then this Spanish Oak Peated Malt is not for you. This pour is much richer, has a deeper sherry character, and features a strong smokiness throughout. It’s almost like mashing together a great smokey Islay whisky with something from Macallan. It’s got everything you love from a sherried whisky, wrapped up in a smokey attitude that won’t be for everyone. But if you’re at the distillery, this is a steal of a price for a whisky that unlocks a rarely seen side of Suntory. If you aren’t afraid of a bit of smoke – buy it. You may never get the chance to pay $25 for something this good from Yamazaki.

Score: 91