Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013
山崎 シェリーカスク 2013
About
The bottle that put Japanese whisky on the global map. Named "Best Whisky in the World" by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015, this NAS single malt was matured exclusively in Spanish oak sherry butts at Suntory's Yamazaki distillery. Only 18,000 bottles were produced, making it one of the most sought after Japanese whiskies ever released.
Tasting Notes
Deep dried fruit, raisins and sultanas layered with dark chocolate and orange peel. Toasted oak mingles with cinnamon spice and a hint of ginger. Rich butterscotch and toffee emerge as it opens up.
Intensely sherried with Christmas cake richness. Dark berries and plum jam meet espresso bitterness. Treacle toffee, clove, and nutmeg spice build across the palate with excellent oiliness and weight.
Enormously long finish. Dry sherry tannins, lingering dark chocolate, ground ginger, and subtle sandalwood. The fruit sweetness returns in waves before a final dry oak farewell.
What People Are Saying
Extremely rare on Amazon Japan with listings typically sold out. When available, Japanese reviewers describe it as a landmark expression. Praised for its concentrated dried fruit character and exceptional depth compared to standard Yamazaki releases.
「「シェリー樽の深い味わいが素晴らしい。ドライフルーツとチョコレートの香りが長く続く。日本のウイスキーの歴史を変えた一本。」」
Frequently discussed on r/JapaneseWhisky as the bottle that launched the global Japanese whisky boom after Jim Murray's 2015 award. Community consensus: genuinely excellent whisky, but current auction prices (often exceeding $5,000) reflect collector demand more than drinking value. Many members describe it as their "grail bottle" while acknowledging they would rather drink the Yamazaki 18 at a fraction of the cost.
Rated 90.07/100 across 150+ votes on Whiskybase, placing it among the highest rated Japanese whiskies on the platform. Reviewers consistently praise the deep sherry influence and exceptional balance, though some note the astronomical secondary market prices have outpaced the liquid quality.
Community opinions collected from public forums and review sites. These are not our own ratings.
How to Enjoy
Best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to open the sherry complexity. The richness also works beautifully with a single large ice cube.
