Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt 2024 Edition

Features

Description

The Yamazaki Islay Peated Malt 2024 Edition is a limited-edition Japanese single malt released as part of the 2024 Tsukuriwake Selection, alongside Yamazaki Golden Promise, Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old and Hakushu Peated Malt 18 Year Old. Tsukuriwake refers to Suntory's philosophy of creating diversity through different approaches to ingredients, fermentation, distillation and maturation.

Here, Yamazaki takes an unusual approach: Islay peat meets Japanese whisky-making. Islay peat is used during the malting process to introduce its distinctive smoky character, but this isn't an attempt to make Yamazaki taste like an Islay Scotch. Instead, Suntory has deliberately balanced that smoke against the characteristic sweetness created by Yamazaki's water and maturation processes.

The result is a softer, sweeter style of peat, with smoke complementing rather than dominating the whisky. Bottled at a robust 48% ABV, this is a particularly interesting Yamazaki for drinkers who enjoy smoky whisky but want something considerably more restrained and elegant than the classic heavily peated Islay style.

Tasting Notes Colour: Bright gold. Nose: Gentle aromatic smoke with a distinctive biscuit-like maltiness underneath. Palate: Smooth and sweet, beginning with brown sugar before developing bitter orange and citrus notes. The peat gradually builds without overwhelming the sweeter Yamazaki character. Finish: Warm, slow and lingering, with sweet smoke continuing through the finish.

Technical Details Distillery: Yamazaki DistilleryProducer: House of SuntoryCountry: JapanWhisky Type: Single Malt Japanese WhiskyMalt: Islay Peated MaltEdition: 2024 EditionCollection: Tsukuriwake Selection 2024ABV: 48%Bottle Size: 700mlAge Statement: Non-Age StatementBottled: 2024Release: Limited Edition Why Its Special What makes this release particularly compelling is the collision of two very different whisky traditions.

Suntory takes peat associated with Islay's famously smoky whiskies and applies it within Yamazaki's Japanese production philosophy. Rather than chasing medicinal or intensely maritime peat, the distillery uses Yamazaki's naturally softer character to build sweetness around the smoke. Suntory describes brown sugar, bitter orange and gentle smoke as central to the resulting profile.

It's also important within the wider Tsukuriwake collection. Where Golden Promise explores barley, Mizunara 18 explores Japanese oak, and Hakushu 18 explores long-aged peated malt, Yamazaki Islay Peated demonstrates what changing the style of peat itself can do to Yamazaki spirit. For collectors, the combination of the 2024 Tsukuriwake designation, 48% bottling strength and highly unusual Islay-peat/Yamazaki pairing makes this one of the more distinctive modern Yamazaki releases.

Think Islay smoke with the volume turned down and the Yamazaki sweetness turned up.