Yamazaki 18 Year Japanese Whisky Re-Review

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[@whiskytube5972]

A phenomenal whisky tested by a phenomenal duo! We hope Scott and Bart will share a little, even a drop, of this magical elixir. Who else among you whiskytube friends wishes they could get even a whiff of this, and what would you do for one?

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Thanks for the awesome Comment!

[@bradhend]

I'm a bourbon drinker and haven't branched out too much but I still watch everything you guys review bc you're just so much fun to watch. I'm newer to whiskey and live in KY so bourbon is obviously my jam. I plan to try others eventually and will certainly refer to your wisdom. Thanks for the great content!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Thanks Brad. Awesome comments. The world of whisk(e)y is spectacular. Keep us in the loop as you start to try other types. I love reading those exploratory journeys. Bart

[@wilsonhernandez553]

Just opened tonight my yamazaki 18 bottle that I received as a gift not knowing what this was...and man all I can say is WOW. Thanks for the great review!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

That is awesome! great gift!

[@pardizzil9295]

Huge fan of Japanese whiskey. Currently enjoying the Taketsuru 17 year and one last Yamazaki 12 year in the vault. I also have the Yamazaki 18 year stash away for a special occasion. I was able to find one at Total Wine in Arlington, TX, for $300.00. The funny thing is I actually prefer the Yamazaki 12 over the Taketsuru 17. The Taketsuru was extremely peaty when I first opened it but it is slowly becoming more floral/ fruit. Great review and can't wait to experience it for myself!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Thanks Pardizzil! have never seen the Taketsuru 17 but sounds great.

[@sunnyc.7720]

I recently purchased a bottle of hibiki Harmony as the yamazaki 12 and 18 or out of my price range and I was pleasantly surprised with the bottle of Harmony good stuff. Thanks for all the fun videos y'all.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

We reviewed that one too Sunny! thanks for watching!

[@Richie.Z]

Great revisit with a great Japanese whisky. The last time I had this was in 2014 finishing up my bottle at the time and I thankfully still have an unopened bottle which I'll probably save for a special occasion. The sherry casks give it the dark fruits and Mizunara wood casks give it that sandalwood and some of the floral notes you're getting. Phenomenal stuff, I'm tempted to just open mine now lol cheers gentlemen!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Save it for a special occasion!

[@Dice562]

I tried yamazaki 18 a couple weeks back and man, hands down the best alcohol ive ever had in my life. Sooooooooo smooooooth. No burn at all and delicious taste. Too bad i cant afford it =(

[@ScotchTestDummies]

it is a great one!

[@welshtoro3256]

Big review guys. Well done! A lot of my favourite whisky reviewers have gone through so much stuff they are left with reviewing ever more crazy and wacko expressions which are expensive and limited expressions (21 yr single barrel etc) I'm going through a phase where I'm enjoying a review of my old favourites. I really think re-reviewing is a good idea. I'm getting a great deal of pleasure from younger and cheaper expressions that I thought I'd outgrown. I think we are in a much better place to give a second opinion. I'm lucky enough to own a Yamazaki 18. I paid £79 for a 12 year and the 18 arrived in the post but I'm too scared to open it. I'm sure I will end up drinking it but the price is ridiculous. (It's not worth $300 Scott.) Have a look at the Suntory website and you will see that the Yamazaki is side by side with Ribena in importance. They probably make more money from Ribena actually. I get the impression that it's just a product to them. They are a massive company and they could have expanded the distillery years ago.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

great points Welsh! Our palates have definitely changed!

[@WhiskyInThe6]

Welsh Toro love that story about buying the 12 and getting the 18. So awesome.

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Excellent re-review dudes. Savour the hell out of that bottle because I doubt it’ll ever be cheaper and even if they bring a new 18, it’ll be different

[@ScotchTestDummies]

True true true

[@foodquig]

I can't get this juice. I will probably never find it and they won't make any more of it... It's still nice to sit here and enjoy it vicariously through you while I take sips from my infinity bottle of Irish whiskeys that I have had over the last couple of years...

[@WhiskeyCrusaders]

I enjoyed the review. I am glad I have one hidden away that I have not opened yet. Saving it for a special occasion. I generally like Nikka better so it will be interesting when I try it for comparison. Thanks again for the great review.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

thank you whiskey isthebest!

[@everwind5691]

This is my number 1 Whisky. Sells if $700 in DC :( I have never had a whisky that had so many distinct and complementary flavors that just roll off the tongue. Such a deep an compelling experience. Lovely warm finish. I was always amazed how complex the whisky is, but the flavors never compete, they just go together so well. I think Bart said it right when he said this is a crafted whisky. It is exceptional. The 12 is nice but the 18 oh man!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

definitely! thanks everwind!

[@jameswen4182]

awesomely fun re-review! i just followed your lead and re-introduced myself to 18. i have a couple of these stashed because the prices are insane now. bought my first bottle in 2010 for $120. now about Bart's peat cave...

[@ScotchTestDummies]

The cave is Smokey

[@franklampard6316]

Bart, I feel proud to have tasted your Yamazaki 18. It was one of my bucket list whiskies. Thanks. I hate to use the term smooth as it's a boring word, but the 18 is easily the smoothest whisky I've had.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Pleasure to share it with you.

[@kunaalkhanna]

It's one of my all time favorites. It's the unique combination of mizunara (sandalwood incense and orchard fruits) and Sherry influence that has not been replicated by anyone else. Why not?!?! I've already finished two bottles and am lucky to have three more bottles at home. Just. Can't. Get. Enough. Of it. 😁 I also have the exclusively mizunara aged 18 yr but don't have the heart to open it after auction prices are hitting upwards of $3K and some retailers asking $6K for it!!! I will eventually though. 😬😬

[@ScotchTestDummies]

very nice! you have some good bottles!

[@mikelisac]

Bart like's 'em old. Guys, it was nice to meet you at the Kilt Krawl. That was a good time for sure. Regarding your comment about spending money on VW vs Yamazaki, I traded a bottle of VW 12 for Yamazaki 12, and have zero regrets.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

That was a good trade Mike. Great meeting you as well. The krawl was a blast. Nothing better then bar hoping with bag pipes. The tram ride was magical.

[@Claire_III]

Love this bottle, got me a back up of the last bottle in the entire state of VA for $230! Going to be hard to open it seeing the prices sky rocket

[@ScotchTestDummies]

nice Claire!

[@kerino1]

Really enjoyed the re-review, gents! I've never layed eyes on the Yamazaki 18, but am wondering if maybe the Chivas Mizunara down at my Total Wine can get me close..... 😉😂😂😂😂

[@ScotchTestDummies]

not sure kerino1! might bring some of the same notes.

[@donishita]

Great review and thanks for making my shot the travelling dummies pic of this week! We should open up a poll on what we want you to revisit..I'll go first, Connemara Peated Irish! They now produce a cask strength version and maybe this one may be a little better for Scott. Then again, if you do the cask strength that's not a true re-review but I think it's worth a try since your palettes have changed.

[@donishita]

and I won't ask for a re-review of the Knob Creek Maple Bourbon as that would just be cruel.

[@aimee2234]

Maybe slightly better than the first one. ;) You guys are great!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

plus or minus one

[@markprice6911]

Just a few years ago (10) the Yamazaki 12 was $69 and the 18 was $109. Or, as I like to say, the good old days.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

go back and buy a couple cases! thanks Mark.

[@dougchrisope9958]

I got a pour for $96 about 6 months ago and it was too rich and complex to take in and process in one sitting. I thought the development and finish were short-ish but its risky to say definitive things from one tasting.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

plus bars or restaurants just aren't the right setting!

[@EastCoastLQReviews]

good review guys, i'd like to try this myself if i can find it.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

it is good.

[@kellyx4988]

I had a dram of this at a bar in DC and I was blown away. What other whiskey is similar to the Yamazaki 18?

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Oh boy. From Bart’s point of view I would say not much is similar. The sherry is there but it’s not a Sherry bomb and the different wood being used makes it stand alone for me. Any ideas Scott?

[@welshtoro3256]

Tricky to find an official distillery offering that's similar. Some unique notes to the Yamazaki. With independent bottlers anything is possible but that's another world. The obvious comparison is Macallan 18 and there is a good video doing just that by Peat Lova. Unfortunately, old Macallan 18 is as expensive as Yamazaki 18.

[@sherrymaltdrams9183]

If your doing a sherry malt strikes back at the end of the year. Try some edradour 12 if you haven't already.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

A Very Sherry Christmas will be coming! Just picked up the Edradour 10, haven't seen the 12.

[@Wekotin]

So rediculous where the prices are going with japanese whiskies. I got two bottles of Yamazaki 18yo for 89€ in 2014/2015. Not worth 500€ what they asking for it now. And now even Yama 12, Hibiki 12 and all other mediocre whiskies at best are selling for several hundreds. Super rediculous.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

They are high but that’s the supply and demand issue working itself out

[@HaSpeedHa]

I like the re-review of this. I would love to see you take another look at the standard Compass Box line up. Also, have you heard about the new addition to the Compass Box core range "The Spainard"? Going to be a heavy wine influenced bottling.

[@jhmbpc]

In my one word, Yama18 is Unique, and now for my few cents. I started off on Japanese whiskies, and became a fan right away. Now the elusive bottles are excessively priced, but rarely even available now. Yama 18 about 800, Hibiki 12, 17, 21 about 300, 700, and 900 respectively. But to me So great. I am now stocking up on the Harmony, as I believe this will be the last of the Great Japanese whiskies, and far out-shines so many of the new pretenders to the throne. Not to mention the Hakushu age statements. I have found some Hakushu at an excellent price. (and not telling) ;)) For me there are NO comparables to these whiskies. I can often find Scotch whiskies that are very similar in character, and comparable to each other. I have yet to find Any Scotch that compares to the (authentic) whiskies from Japan. Especially the Yama 18. With one exception, in caliber (but not quite flavor profile) and that's the Glendronach 18 Allardice. My final question for those who do love the Yamazaki 18 ... what are you drinking as its replacement?!? that is my holy grail quest Cheers

[@jhmbpc]

Sorry, due to time and subject focus, I did forget to mention some very excellent Nikka whiskies, but they in themselves seem to be somewhat in their own category of uniqueness, although approaching by design I think, the Scotch profile.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Great comment jmh!

[@ScotchTestDummies]

agree on the Nikka's! they're doing some good stuff too!

[@jhmbpc]

@@ScotchTestDummies Hi, May I add an update, please. As you might recall I do favor, and go on about Japanese whisky, and due to that and my deep newbie status of whisky-stewardship and experience with Scotch, let me say that I think I have met my Yama18 match in The Macallan 18, may I simply say "Whoa-Boy"! It's sort of what I have been looking for, ... actually stayed away from Macallan as my first foray was with the 12 in a 50cc sampler mini. At the time I didn't favor it. Recently, however, similar to your Christmas Special Get of the Blue Label JW (I think it was). I decided to obtain the pricey bottle after watching a review on another channel with the mention that the Mac18 was, in the reviewers mind, of WhiskyOfTheYear calibre back in '14 ... Who would have thought it would be an auspicious find on my Yamazaki-comparable-quest. Thanks for listening. BTW, I don't think you have reviewed the Mac18, ... looking forward to Those notes if you get a chance.

[@jjdelacruz4466]

hope you guys do a review of Hibiki 21 soon

[@ScotchTestDummies]

us too!

[@RobertHorovitzND]

Great video fellas! How would you compare this to the Glendronach 18 $209CAD here in Ontario now (now that we finally got it back!) and the Macallan 18, which I saw for $279USD in Michigan, which seems expensive in my opinion?

[@krishnar3493]

Yamazaki 18 vs GlenDronach Parliament 21 I known Bart's answer here Scott, you rated Dronach 21 96, so you think that is way better than this( 3 point difference)? Btw, I think Dronach 21 is a remarkable whisky and will never consider buying a yamazaki 18 or even a 12 at these ridiculous prices

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Glendro 21 is superb!

[@travisfaircloth]

That's one I never got to try :( It does sound like a good one. Secondary is up to 500 now. Ouch. You could buy 5 Allardice and have money leftover for that price lol.

[@ScotchTestDummies]

thats good stuff too! thanks travis!

[@ghantakha5568]

Well done guys , great review 🤠

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Thanks for the visit

[@halofire4725]

They look exactly like 🤠🤓

[@ScotchTestDummies]

boom!

[@josephrobinett867]

Bought it today for 263 out the door at Costco in san diego

[@ScotchTestDummies]

that's a great price!

[@chadadams1127]

Would like to see Scott's impression of Longmorn 16...😎

[@joeblow9931]

I can get a bottle of this right now..but $350, seems steep

[@ScotchTestDummies]

thats actually not bad considering some of the prices I've seen. I passed on one awhile back for $325 but thats just because I thought I had other stuff to spend that much on.

[@WhiskyInThe6]

I want this but don’t want to spend $500 US for this. Bart I’ll trade you a Lot 40 12 Cask Strength for Half that bottle 😁

[@ScotchTestDummies]

Lol. Close but...no deal. 😎

[@SickStyle201]

Just nabbed a bottle of 18 for my father last night in NYC

[@RaposoAnibal]

Please re review The General

[@ScotchTestDummies]

its all gone! We shared the last of it with Roy (Aqvavitae) in Austin. We posted our final sit down with it on Patreon.

[@drjoei]

Jim beam bought put suntory?? Btw, great clip

[@ScotchTestDummies]

other way around actually, Suntory bought Beam. thanks drjoei.

[@ericgilbert8114]

I still don't get the huge popularity with Japanese whisky. The pricing on Japanese whiskies that are largely sourced from the two biggest whisky producing countries and then blended with a small amount of young Japanese grain whisky is totally ridiculous. Totally my opinion

[@ScotchTestDummies]

good point eric!

[@ericgilbert8114]

I have not had any Japanese whisky since the prices shot up. For me, the fact that it could be sourced because of Japan's zero rules with their whisky production and they really have no intention to actually saying that, also the fact that Japanese distillers say that they can't produce enough for demand so they can charge high prices. I'm using more the norm and available Japanese whisky as the example. Transparency is to much of a issue to charging those prices.

[@vrich3733]

Wow the prices are flying high!!!! Do you how many bottles of Fireball I can get for that!!!! 🤪 BOOM 💥

[@ScotchTestDummies]

thats a lot of fireball Vrich!

[@angelavila9452]

I couldn't watch this after the test ittttttttttttt yell

[@ScotchTestDummies]

power outage?

[@jeremyferguson8155]

I have one for 650

[@ScotchTestDummies]

good whisky!