The Yamazaki 18 Year Single Malt Japanese Whisky

• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Age: 18 Years
• Style: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
• Distillery: Suntory Yamazaki, Japan

The Yamazaki 18 Year Old Single Malt Whisky is made from 100% malted barley, milled and mashed before being fermented in Suntory's proprietary wooden vats. After fermentation, the whisky is distilled through Suntory's copper-pot stills — the first of their kind outside of Scotland — before being aged in casks made of three different woods: American, Spanish, and Japanese oak, the latter adding a distinctive character to the whisky.

"This is all done by hand — the traditional way," says Osamu Abe, manager of Yamazaki Distillery, describing the cooperage taking place at the distillery. "This is called yagura — craftsmanship. You must watch and listen to how they're made. In Japan, we say 'use all 5 senses.' Of course we learn from others, but our own senses are key."

After aging for 18 years in Japan's unique environment — where shifting temperature and humidity affect the casks' breathing and the interaction between wood and whisky — the whisky is brought to proof before bottling.

Awards: Five Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, "Best Other Whisky" in 2009, 2011, and 2012, a score of 96 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute, and 95 points from Wine Enthusiast.