The Yamazaki Whisky Distillery is Pretty Neat!

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A favourite pastime in Japan in summer is to get together with friends and while away the balmy nights around a habachi barbecue with some ice cold beers. In February however, what with the frequent snowfall and early sunsets, those long evenings can seem a distant memory. Beer is not called for at this time of year. This season calls for something a little stronger, and what tipple could be more fitting than a wee dram of whisky?

Slightly more than a wee dram here... — Slightly more than a wee dram here…

Although whisky production has a history going back nearly 100 years in Japan, until recently Japanese whisky hasn’t had widespread recognition within the international market. Over the last decade this has begun to change, and this year with a Japanese whisky named as the best in the world, Japanese whisky is finally getting the appreciation it deserves.

Although we might not all be able to afford a bottle of the award winning Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 (only 18,000 bottles were produced and it retails for US$160 a bottle), the Yamazaki distillery also produces some more affordable whiskies. As a bonus, the distillery is just a short 15 minute minute train ride from Kyoto (a destination which features on the majority of our Small Group Tours and Self Guided Adventures) and there are free daily guided tours of the distillery.

I recently visited the distillery to experience one of their guided tours, and of course to have a wee tipple! Here’s a brief look at what I saw and learnt!

After a short train ride from Kyoto station, you will arrive at JR Yamazaki station. Much smaller then Kyoto station!

The distillery is less than 10 minutes walk from the station and is clearly signposted.

Although Yamazaki station is in Kyoto prefecture, you will actually walk across the prefectural boundary in to Osaka prefecture on your way to the distillery. — Although Yamazaki station is in Kyoto prefecture, you will actually walk across the prefectural boundary into Osaka prefecture on your way to the distillery.

Before long the distillery looms into view! As you can see, it was a slightly wet and dreary day. But I just imagined myself in the Scottish Highlands and suddenly it didn't seem half as bad! — Before long the distillery looms into view! As you can see, it was a slightly wet and dreary day. But I just imagined myself in the Scottish Highlands and suddenly it didn’t seem half as bad!

After reporting to the customer reception and confirming your appointment, you will be directed to the Yamazaki Whisky Museum (the white building on the right), which is where the tours start.

I advise arriving about 30 minutes before your tour appointment, which will allow you to have a quick look around the exhibits in the museum. There were many old bottles on display charting the history of Suntory Yamazaki whisky from its birth in 1923 to the present day.

Before the tour started I was also offered an English language audio guide. The tour guide will tell you which number to press and you can follow along with the tour even if you can't speak Japanese! — Before the tour started I was also offered an English language audio guide. The tour guide will tell you which number to press and you can follow along with the tour even if you can’t speak Japanese. Marvellous!

My tour started right on time from the meeting point on the 2nd floor of the Whisky Museum. First we were greeted by these statues in the courtyard. The sitting statue on the left is Shinjiro Torii, who founded the distillery. I'm not sure who the chap on the right is, but I've got a feeling he likes whisky. — My tour started right on time from the meeting point on the 2nd floor of the Whisky Museum. First we were greeted by these statues in the courtyard. The sitting statue on the left is Shinjiro Torii, who founded the distillery. I’m not sure who the chap on the right is, but I’ve got a feeling he likes whisky.

From the courtyard we ventured into the distillery itself and were given a chronological tour of the creation of whisky, starting with this room where the malting, mashing and fermentation takes place.

From here we ventured into the distillation hall, where three different shapes of 'pot stills' are used to create 'new-make spirits' of different characters. — From here we ventured into the distillation hall, where three different shapes of ‘pot stills’ are used to create ‘new-make spirits’ of different characters.

From there we continued to the rather chilly storehouse where the ageing of the spirit takes place in oak casks. Casks of different ages impart different flavours. — From there we continued to the rather chilly storehouse where the ageing of the clear spirit takes place in oak casks. Casks of different ages impart different flavours and also give whisky its colour.

Each cask has the year of production printed on the front. This one is quite a young one compared to some that I saw!

We left through the back entrance of the storage hall and walked past the distillery's very own Shinto shrine! — We left through the back entrance of the storage hall and walked past the distillery’s very own Shinto shrine!

The aromas floating around throughout all of the places we had visited so far had really whet my appetite for this part - the tasting hall! — The aromas floating around throughout all of the places we had visited so far had really whet my appetite for this part – the tasting hall!

The first whisky on offer for tasting was their signature whisky - Yamazaki 12 Years Old Single Malt. They recommend drinking it as a highball (mixed with soda water). It's not how I usually drink my whisky, but as it was free I was happy to go along with their suggestion. I was pleasantly surprised and was really enjoying my highball and packet of nuts when... — The first whisky on offer for tasting was their signature whisky – Yamazaki 12 Years Old Single Malt. They recommend drinking it as a highball (mixed with soda water). It’s not how I usually drink my whisky, but as it was free I was happy to go along with their suggestion. I was pleasantly surprised and was really enjoying my highball and packet of nuts when…

... another whisky was offered! This time from Yamasaki's sister distillery, Hakushu, located in Yamanashi prefecture, home of Mt. Fuji. I actually preferred the fresher and smokier flavour of this whisky... — … another whisky was offered! This time from Yamasaki’s sister distillery, Hakushu, located in Yamanashi prefecture, home of Mt. Fuji. I actually preferred the fresher and smokier flavour of this whisky…

... but when we were given the chance to have yet another try of either the Yamazaki or the Hakushu in a form other than 'highball', I felt I had to represent the home team and tried the Yamazaki 12 Years Old neat. And jolly good it was, too! — … but when we were given the chance to have yet another try of either the Yamazaki or the Hakushu in a form other than ‘highball’, I felt I had to represent the home team and tried the Yamazaki 12 Years Old neat. And jolly good it was, too!

Next stop was of course the gift shop. Three whiskies down and my purse strings were feeling slightly looser than usual, but I resisted and headed straight on through to the Whisky Library.

The Whisky Library contains 7,000 bottles of single malt whisky all created at the distillery.

Each bottle has detailed information about when it was created and tasting notes. Unfortunately the bottles in the library are not available for purchase or tasting.

However, don't be disheartened! The Whisky Library also has a tasting counter where you can sample a large number of whiskies created by both the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries. They also have a number of other whiskies not just from Scotland but from Ireland, America and Canada as well. — However, don’t be disheartened! The Whisky Library also has a tasting counter where you can sample a large number of whiskies created by both the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries. They also have a number of other whiskies not just from Japan, but from around the globe.

As everything up until this point had been totally free of charge, I felt duty bound to at least spend some of my money in return for the wonderful services I had received. I opted to sample the Yamazaki 18 Years Old Single Malt. After sampling its loveliness, I almost felt duty bound to sample some others, but felt that this could be a rather slippery slope, and so decided it was safer to begin my journey home!

And so my experience at the Yamazaki Distillery was concluded and I headed back to Yamazaki station. The distillery is actually located adjacent to the train line, so if you're arriving into Kyoto from Kansai International Airport or travelling between Osaka and Kyoto, keep an eye out for it on the way! — And so my experience at the Yamazaki Distillery was concluded and I headed back to Yamazaki station. The distillery is actually located adjacent to the train line, so if you’re arriving into Kyoto from Kansai International Airport, or travelling between Osaka and Kyoto, keep an eye out for it on the way!

I highly recommend a visit to the Yamazaki distillery. You’re sure to learn something new, and who can say no to a bombardment of free whisky? Although participation is free, appointments for the guided tours are essential and need to be arranged well in advance. If you would like to find out more about how to include a tour of the Yamazaki distillery into your trip to Japan, please check out the experience page on our website. This experience could easily be included into a Self Guided Adventure and could also be combined with some other fantastic gastronomic experiences as part of your trip.

Sláinte and kanpai!