Yamazaki 18: Unicorn or Donkey?
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2024
- Kanpai Planet presents the ULTIMATE guide to Yamazaki 18.
Yamazaki 18 is one of the most iconic Japanese whiskies of all time, but is shrouded in mystery.
We give you everything you need to know about Yamazaki 18 from Suntory! Ever wondered what casks were used for Yamazaki 18? Is it natural colour? Non-chill filtered? What are the differences between Yamazaki 18 and the Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve? And most importantly, how does it taste? We have you covered in the ultimate Yamazaki 18 overview and review!
As per the usual, expect lots of historic tidbits and other edutainment in true Kanpai Planet fashion. It's a whisky review like no other!
Other Yamazaki reviews on Kanpai Planet:
Yamazaki Limited Edition 2021: • Yamazaki Limited Editi...
The Essence of Suntory Whisky Volume 5: • NEW Yamazakis! The Ess...
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#JapaneseWhisky #Yamazaki #Suntory
Finally! Been checking every day. Life is no longer the same without a KP video for the day. I've resorted to rewatching old videos. 😄
You've created a monster, Mac!
Derek: I cannot convey what a joy it was to wake up to this comment! Thank you so so much for all your support.
PRO TIP 1: Next to the Subscribe button is a bell icon. Make sure that is switched to ALL notifications. Then, you'll be able to hack the algorithm and know when a new video has landed!
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In any case, please keep re-watching older videos. It really helps the channel! いつもありがとうございます‼️
I once saw an empty space on a liquor shelf with a price tag stating: "Yamazaki 18 27,500 yen." I probably missed being able to buy it by hours or perhaps 1 day. If you visit the distillery, you can get 15 ml pours for about $6 or set (Yamazaki 18, Hakushu 18, and Hibiki 21) for $15. It's unfortunate that the high prices (as well as hype) for the bottles distort people's expectations for the whisky. Setting the secondary market pricing aside, this is an outstanding whisky.
I completely agree Alan. I think this is a world-class dram and a representative and iconic Japanese whisky. At the RRP, although pricey and not comprable to what some 18-year old Scotch, I would snap it up immediately. The distillery is a lovely place to sample this and other premium Suntory whiskies. Hope thye reopen soon!
So you don't get to purchase one of their core range bottle at their distillery?
What is available at the distillery varies. In recent times you SHOULD (not guaranteed) be able to purchase a 300ml distillery exclusive bottle and a bottle of Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve (reviewed here: ua-cam.com/video/5-q2PArrSdY/v-deo.html
A beautiful review and informative video as per usual, Mac! Loving the content my friend!
Thanks Aswin! That means a lot. Please share the video far and wide with all your drinks-loving friends. That would mean the world to me. 🤓
Just saw your latest review of my favorite Japanese whisky. Another great video and a fantastic dram! Yamasaki 18 is hard to beat.
It's iconic for a reason! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Great review. Well researched.
Thank you very much! Really glad you enjoyed it. Kanpai!
Great review! Very thoughtful analysis and easy to understand. I’m just starting my journey into Japanese whisky, and I must say you are one of the best whisky tubers I’ve seen. Keep it up, and one day I hope to visit your bar in Tokyo!
Thank you Kris for your kind and motivation words! Kanpai!
One of my all time favorites for sure! Funny thing is that last time I tried Hakushu 18, Yamazaki 18, and Hibiki 21 side by side, Hakushu 18 actually won my heart that day! Great review as always! David and I were just talking about your great work last week when I was at Aloha!
Thanks so much James - that means a lot. I've hinted before at what a huge Hakushu fan I am... but I can't spoil the results of any potential Yamazaki 18 vs Hakushu 18 upcoming video! 🤓🥃
AWESOME VIDEO! Keep it up cause I'm learning a lot.
Thank you! Please subscribe for more, and share with all your friends! 🙏
Really great video with really fun editing ideas and cool camera switches. Very entertaining to watch and love your sense of humour behind it all! A dram might be the way to go for the Yamazaki 18 then ;)
Thanks so much Luna. Definitely start off with a dram. After all, you might not like it!
Also, just subscribed. Surprising you don’t have more! Really enjoyed the video!
Please spread the word to help ameliorate this situation! 🤓🥃
Another great video! I've done a few Japanese whisky videos but one of these days I'll do a more in-depth study. Watching your channel will definitely be a part of my research.
Thanks for watching and commenting Erik. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
Great stuff Mac, as always a super stripped down review.
Thanks Jules! Great to hear you enjoyed it. Kanpai! 🥃🥃🥃
I’m here for the unicorn gifs 🥰🥰🥰
🦄 🦄 🦄 ✔✔✔
Great review and thank you for bringing in the distillers reserve and giving all the information about it as well. Hope to see the same for the Hakushu in future or have you already brought it in another review? Kanpai
Not covered Hakushu yet... but it's my favourite distillery, so that should give you a clue as to how things are going to go! Kanpai!
Excellent job on pricing! Just saw it going for the same price at Narita airport in Japan. Great video!
Thanks Jonathan! I spend a long researching these to help in situations like this!
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Kanpai!
Another brilliant video Mac - and one of my favourite whiskies! Mentioning that it is made from UK malted barley has drawn my attention to an aspect of JSLMA that had hitherto escaped my notice - it is saccharification onwards that must take place in Japan. Blind spots indeed!
Alistair / @SpiritAndWood
"Raw ingredients must be limited to malted grains, other cereal grains, and water extracted in Japan" could have been worded a little better in my opinion! Japan's barley is expensive, so I understand why using overseas barley is still JLSMA compliant. Thanks for watching 🙏🤓🥃
Great work as always Mac.
Fortunately I've had the pleasure to visit the Yamazaki distillery several times (and once to the Hakushu distillery) and on each occasion have sampled the Yamazaki 18 yo. Always an enjoyable dram. Definitely no comparison to the Distillers Reserve.
Another highlight has been to sample the Hibiki 30 yo though that's yet another extreme case of 'unobtainium'.
Keep up the great productions.
Hibiki 30... that would make a great video!
Thanks for your kind words and for commenting. Please help spread the word. Would love to get this to 1000 votes ASAP! 🙏
Good review , like .
Thank you very much! Kanpai!
Excellent review, as always, on the Yamazaki whiskys. When I visited Tokyo in 2019, I stopped in an elegant little bar about a block away from Tokyo Station on the Yaesu side called Bar Ocean. They had a bottle of Yamazaki 18, so naturally I ordered a pour. Absolutely wonderful Japanese single malt! I immediately put it on my list of whiskys I wanted to own a bottle of.
Fast forward to 2021, and I'm in Little Rock, Arkansas. I pop into Colonial Wine and Spirits, the city's best liquor store. THere it is, on the shelf, behind the counter. One single bottle of Yamazaki 18! It was the first and only time I had ever seen it in a store. I was ready to jump on it until I asked the price. $800 USD. My jaw hit the floor, and my heart sank. I could afford it, but at that price it just didn't feel like a good idea. I couldn't do it. As badly as I wanted it, I left the store without the bottle. I let that unicorn go. But next time I see it, I WILL be ready to buy it
I absolutely 100% totally hear you re: pricing. I find, especially for bottles I really want, that it can very much mess with my head. You made the right call though - if you were not comfortable at the time then it was the right decision. Next time, when you buy it, it will be the right one. $800 is a lot though, so hopefully you find it cheaper next time! Thanks for commenting.
@@KanpaiPlanet And now that I know where the distillery is, I will most certainly visit next time I'm in Japan. During my previous trips, I rode the train several times between Osaka and Kyoto, and even spent a day in Takatsuki. Never knew the distillery was there........
Great name for your whiskey lounge by the way 🥃
You made my day. I feel I have done a public service! Including the distillery map and and location was worth it!
@@JeffWhisky A fellow whiskey lover named Jeff! Haha. Cheers, brother!
Bought a bottle of Yamazaki 18 in Tokyo airport on a layover in 2011 for $194 and Loved every drop. Finished it in 2017. I did manage to get another bottle through a Friend and it will be opened the first night in my new condo in another State.
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Kanpai! 🥃🥃🥃
Brilliant!
The video or whisky?! 🤓
@@KanpaiPlanet both! 😊🥃
That is the correct answer! 🥃🤓
Great video, and no surprise that it has the unicorn status. I tried the Yama 18 in a flight with Hakushu 18 and Hibiki 21 in Suntory Whiskey House in Osaka. Best money ever spent ! (and in fact at a very reasonable price). Although the Hibiki 21 is blending perfection it was the Yama 18 that stole my heart that night...
Now, when it comes to the affordable editions, I actually prefer the Hakushu.
Hi Jordy. Thanks for watching and commenting. That Yama 18 - Hak 18 - Hibiki 21 lineup is legendary. Glad to hear you enjoyed that all.
I'll be making a video about the Yamazaki and Hakushu NAS (relatively) soon, so I'm not gonna give away any spoilers 🤓
If you're not, please subscribe and help spread the word on Kanpai Planet! 🙏
Greetings Mac! Ordering my 18 next month!! Cannot wait for a wee dram!!!! I am a photographer and this will be my fee.
That is a quality way to get paid! Kanpai!
Watching this in Oct 2023. Yama 18 MSRP is now 600. Suntory took massive price increases for the 12 year Yamazaki + Hakushu in the past 12 months and while these flew off shelves last year at 130, they are now selling very slowly at 170. Retail stores have tried bundling these things at a slight discount to offload them
Thanks for the colour on current US MSRPs. The overseas pricing of Japanese Whisky, and the demand despite that, is something I find very interesting! Kanpai! 🥃🥃🥃
Thank you for this! I was really torn as to whether or not I should add this to my collection, however I did not realise the step in sweetness from the 12 and the Distiller's. Not overly fond of sweeter whiskies, so I may have to give this a miss.
It's a pricey bottle to not be sure about whether it is right for you. Glad my review helped. There is batch variation too, so some bottles may be less sweet. As always, try to try it in a bar before you commit to a bottle! Thanks for watching, and Kanpai!
Great review Mac, and no I'm not a fan of the Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve...I won't say it's bad, though, but nowhere near to the 12 yo or 18 yo imho....Interesting you talked about the price & availability of this great whisky, here it is most often sold out & otherwise priced around 690 €. Profile wise, I noticed some change between the early batches labelled "single malt" & not "pure malt", so rather mid 2000s, the profile seeming to me fruitier in the past while around 2010/13 more leafy/teaish & smoky, I loved both profiles, but prefered finally the second one, alas I did wait too long so I don't have a bottle of it...Kanpaï !
I agree with you - the Yamazaki NAS to me is a solid dram, not too offensive, but I don't think it does the best job of capturing the essence of the Yamazaki range as it could. Suntory do have some interesting batch variation in their whiskies that I would love to explore in a scientific fashion one day. As always, Kanpai my friend!
Can you review a current Yam 12 with an older stock version (2013-2015) to see what has changed? Love your channel!
Great video idea. I'll add it to the pipeline. Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe for more, and share these videos with all your friends!
Yamazaki (and all of Suntory products) have really jumped up in price. In the US, the cheapest I can find the Yam 12 is $129 at a grocery store, which I believe is an error in their pricing because Costco (usually the cheapest) has rare drops of Yam 12 for $146. I've only seen the NAS Yam Distiller's Reserve for $111 at a grocery store. All these were 750ml bottles. Yamazaki 18 can be as low as $600 or so at Costco, but secondary markets are asking for $1200+.
Suntory pricing overseas is absolutely insane. Thanks for all the colour you have provided. Extremely useful. Kanpai!
Awesome review got a case 4 years back. 6 stashed away. Yummy
Wow! Well done my friend. Enjoy, and Kanpai!
Many years ago, I bought a bottle of Yamazaki 18, and I slowly drank it down. During the time that I drank it, this whisky got discovered, the price skyrocketed, and it became almost impossible to find. Needless to say, I did not buy a new bottle after I finished it. It was a bargain at the US$60 that I paid for it; before it was discovered, it was one of the best values out there. In hindsight, I wish I had bought a case or two so that I could have had a supply for the rest of my life. It is an excellent whisky, and I might even consider paying the current suggested retail price if I could find it, but the price has been run way up on the secondary market (around US$1,000). For that kind of money, I could get many bottles of other excellent whiskies. Hopefully, the supply will eventually catch up to the demand.
Thanks for sharing your story Heather! I think we all wish we'd had the foresight to stock up on it back in the back!
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Kanpai! 🥃🥃🥃
I picked up 3 bottles when it was at $100 each. My plan was to have them as retirement gifts. My colleague retired 2 years later, so I handed him a bottle; he opened it in the office and our group of 5 got to sample it. My uncle retired 3 years after that, but he took home the bottle unopened. Ten years later, I still have my last one sitting in the kitchen cabinet. I brought it to a family Christmas party to drink, but everyone decided to open a Davidoff XO Cognac instead. Now, it's back in my cabinet, and I realize that its current replacement cost is too high -- I can't afford to drink it!
It's the same story with my Crown Royal XR Red Label (Waterloo Distillery): 3 bottles, 1 gifted, 1 opened, and 1 collecting dust.
This past year, I opened a Remy Martin XO 1L and a Glenfiddich 18. Both corks were dried out, so I pushed them into the bottles to pour out their contents through a stainless steel wire filter and into empty wine bottles with screw caps (Stelvin). I wonder if my Yama and XR have dried out corks. They're laying sideways now.
"I can't afford to drink it" is a sentiment I really understand!
Thanks for sharing this story, and hope your other corks are intact.
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Kanpai!
"unobtanium" nice one. Honestly cost-performance wise Japanese whisky will generally underperform scotch, but definitely a must try rather than a must buy!
Exactly. In my previous videos reviewing cheaper whiskies, in almost every single one I have said that there is other value out there in the world of whisky. For this one I wanted to take a different approach. I also wanted to respect those who do think that this bottle is worth its RRP (and more). Each to their own, and power to the people. Kanpai!
would love to try that one day, but at those prices it has 'reason for divorce' written all over it, as even €400-ish is sounding like a decent deal when you see what it goes for over here in Europe (anywhere between 600 and 900). Unfortunately a clear case of trickle down effect as retailers here are even bumping up the price for the NAS version. I've seen it easily double the RRP you mentioned. None the less: excellent notes and background information Mak!
The secondary market pricing on this bottle is insane. As you correctly point out, its the love for this and the Yamazaki 12 which is one of the factors that inflates the price of the whole range and indeed every other Suntory whisky overseas! Be patient, and one day you will get to try a dram - hopefully right here with me in Tokyo!
@@KanpaiPlanet I'll drink to that. Kanpai!
Not pure of heart so that rules me out for trying it 😂 super grateful that Germany makes it that colouring has to be declared, especially for research. Great review of a dram I'm sure I will never try.
No unicorns running around Dartmoor?!? 🦄🦄🦄
Never say never my friend! 🥃🥃🥃
I despair thinking of all the great Japanese whiskeys that I'll never be able to try as they're all allocated (or sold out)
Somehow I've got to convince my better half to plan our next Japan trip to locations near distilleries!!!
Start. Planning. NOW!
By the time you get here, several more distilleries will be up and running too. It will be the holiday of a lifetime, until you have to come back!
My local shop got an allocation of exactly…1..my heart dropped when I walked by the locked case and about sprained my being. I found my unicorn. It’s been a year or two search and at last the wait is over.
Congratulations! Hope the video means you will understand and savour the dram even more. Kanpai 🥃🥃🥃
@@KanpaiPlanet the video does and did fan the flames!
Me and a few others will try this on a special occasion! Someday
That is one lucky group!
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Kanpai! 🥃🥃🥃
@@KanpaiPlanet me,my boss and a good friend had a couple of rounds this last friday.
I was absolutlely dissapointed...
Gutted even...that
That this is available only as an allocation in my area....sigh.
It is absolutly within my my high expectations and the experience worth the extended wait.
Thank you so much for the review-s you carefully craft!
My pleasure. With the support of people like, I'll continue putting them out.
We just had 2 bottles of this arrive at a store I work at. $500!! It's a lot of money, but I'm considering it just because of the rarity
That is a lot! If you do pick one up let me know if you think it was worth it!
@@KanpaiPlanet unfortunately it was bought before I could buy. I'll take it as a sign
Stoicism for the win!
Hi Mac, would love you to try after batches side by side. You will notice the extreme difference over the years with the 18 from just average to outstanding. At least, I hope you will, like I did. Which is why I am reluctant to commit to buying a bottle without trying the same batch. It's sad though, because, when it's a good batch, it's really nice.
Meh....
....you to try several different batches....
To replace "after"
Niels - I agree, and I'm trying to figure out how to do such an experiment. I don't know of any collections extensive enough (and open) to allow it. If you do, please let me know!
PRO TIP: You can actually edit comments if the typo bothers you. Kanpai! 🤓🥃
@@KanpaiPlanet Maybe Apollo Bar in Ginza. Master used to work at Suntory and has some amazing stuff.
I'll head over and have a word! Thanks Niels!
Interesting! I have not tried the 18-year but I blind tasted the 12-year (which by the way is colored and chill filtered) with the NAS Yamazaki 2 times and just by a margin picked the 12-year before the NAS. Not a big difference. Thank you Mac
There is, in my opinion, a decent 'quality' jump from the 12 to the 18. It's interesting you mention the 12 is coloured - according to my German friends it is not. It's possible some batches are coloured and some are not. Thanks always Martin!
@@KanpaiPlanet Hello again Mac! Just about now I am passing the Yamazaki distillery on the Shinkansen. What a coincidence. I will send you an email with a link to where you can see that the 12-year old is colored. Cheers
Enjoy the view!
Would really love to pick up some Hibiki 17 or Yamazaki 18 when I go to Japan in the next 12 months or so. Is my best bet at the airport duty free/limited edition bottles? Or would I have any luck hunting around elsewhere for the standard bottles? What sort of prices would you expect to pay in Japan at a liquor store? In Australia, Hibiki 17 would set me back around $1000 AUD and Yamazaki 18 about $1600 AUD.
You won't find any Hibiki 17 in the primary market in Japan anymore due its discontinuaton here. Your best bet is the duty free bottles, where you can potentially pick up Yamazaki 18, Hakushu 18 and Hibiki 21. Contrary to popular belief, you can head to shops in Tokyo that have these bottles... but you'll have to pay a steep markup for them. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@KanpaiPlanet thank you so much for your reply and suggestions! Will take these on board when I finally find myself in Japan!
My pleasure. Good luck! In the meantime, there is a back catalgoue of whisky and sake content on Kanpai Planet to help you prepare for your trip. Enjoy, and Kanpai!
@@KanpaiPlanet Will definitely check out your other videos too!
wow I bought a Yamazaki 18 year old like 9 years ago for I think $250 at the distillery. It is worth like $1200 today?
In the secondary market prices have gone insane - check some of the recent UK auctions! Hope you enjoyed the bottle. Kanpai!
Can bottles like these actually be bought for this price in Japan? Or is the retail just not used anymore... Because I'm looking at $1600-$2000 for a bottle in Australia!
You have to get very lucky, but it can sometimes happen. Right now, allocation is so low that the sort of places that wouldn't mark up these bottles rarely get them in.
@@KanpaiPlanet I wish I could go and visit... last trip got cancelled due to covid!
Sorry to hear that. Hopefully 2022 will bring good news re: tourism arrivals here!
so is it
colored ? ?
It's Suntory, so the real answer is "who knows?"
Unfortunately, if buyers keep paying the prices currently offered, the Yamazaki 18 will remain a unicorn! Difficult to see in the current day if the Yamazaki will break out of it's unicorn status.
Agreed. The only hope (a long shot) is that Suntory normalize supply soon, and by 'soon' I mean in a decade's time!
I like Japan whisky , but price is not cheap ))))
Both parts of your comment are 100% correct!
The 18 at $700 is laughable. Same for the Limited Edition. Jus so "No", and go on to cheaper, and better whiskies. More than a few good Japanese Whiskies becoming available.
Exactly! 🥃🥃🥃
Mac, sorry OVER: Rated - Hyped - Priced (my personal set of values) .... Question; "Is this video part of a Job Interview." ??? a bit harsh but this is how it came across when watching .....
I thought it would be a divisive one John! Thanks for your comment, and no need to apologise. I didn't make it, I just tried it and like it.
The only job I am interviewing for is "Ongoing presenter of Kanpai Planet" 🤓 Thanks for your continuous support.
@@KanpaiPlanet You get my vote to be "THE" ongoing presenter ... cheers ....john
250 $ for a Yamazaki 12? PHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA what a joke. Right now it is retailing in Eastern Europe for an equivalent of 1000 $ and some stores(it is rare here btw) have it at 1250$...
Really, we pay 250$ here for a 12 year old (and sometimes more) so yeah.. the 18 year old might be worth 250$ but i doubt you will find it anywhere for that price. And therein lies the problem
The pricing - both primary and secondary - of Japanese whisky outside Japan is, as you highlight, too much at times.