In 2021, Yamazaki 25 was reformulated to return to the multi-layered roots of the Yamazaki style.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 25 Year Old is composed of rare malt whiskies aged for more than a quarter of a century in Japanese Mizunara oak, Spanish oak and American oak.

The bottle commonly described in the market as the “new” Yamazaki 25 refers to the reformulated version introduced in 2021. It was not simply a packaging change: Suntory rebuilt the flavour composition around three types of oak to emphasise the complex, layered character it considers fundamental to Yamazaki.

Yamazaki 25 was reformulated in 2021

In 2021, Suntory officially introduced a reformulated Yamazaki 25 Year Old.

Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo returned to what he described as the roots of Yamazaki, blending whiskies aged for at least 25 years in American oak, Spanish oak and Japanese Mizunara oak.

The change matters because today’s Yamazaki 25 is not merely a redesigned bottle. Its flavour architecture was rebuilt to express Yamazaki’s signature multi-layered fruit and Mizunara character.

Three types of oak, all matured for over 25 years

Every component used for the current Yamazaki 25 has been matured for at least 25 years.

Mizunara oak contributes the noble incense, sandalwood and fragrant wood character closely associated with long-aged Japanese whisky.

Spanish and American oak contribute mature fruit, sweetness and additional layers of oak complexity.

Rather than making one cask type dominant, the blend brings aromatic wood, ripe fruit, sweetness, acidity and gentle bitterness into a long, integrated progression.

Ripe fruit, orange marmalade, incense and honey

Suntory’s current Japanese tasting notes describe the colour as bright reddish copper.

The nose shows ripe fruit, orange marmalade and fragrant Mizunara wood.

On the palate are rich sweetness, honey, a faint smoky accent and gentle bitterness.

The sweetness opens smoothly across the palate before deeper acidity and bitterness lead into a long, distinctly oriental woody finish.

When the reformulated whisky was introduced internationally in 2021, Suntory also highlighted dried persimmon, satsuma orange, yuzu, ginger, sandalwood and incense-like spice.

Inspired by Yamazaki 1984

One of Fukuyo’s reference points for the reformulated Yamazaki 25 was Yamazaki 1984.

Yamazaki 1984 famously won Supreme Champion Spirit at the International Spirits Challenge in 2010.

Looking back to that whisky, Fukuyo chose to bring the depth of mature Mizunara back to the centre of Yamazaki 25, balancing it with American and Spanish oak to create the current expression.

Only a little over one thousand bottles a year

Suntory states that Yamazaki 25 is produced in only a little over one thousand bottles annually.

Whisky aged for more than 25 years is already scarce. Yamazaki 25 requires suitable mature stocks from three different oak traditions, making the pool of usable whisky smaller still.

Its rarity therefore comes not simply from the age statement, but from the selection of mature components that meet the specific profile required for the final blend.

A handmade Echizen washi label

The reformulated Yamazaki 25 also incorporates Japanese craft into its presentation.

Suntory’s international launch materials state that the label is made from 100% mulberry Echizen washi paper, handcrafted and slowly dried on wooden boards using a traditional method.

Mizunara, washi and handcraft therefore form part of the visual and material identity of the current Yamazaki 25 alongside the whisky itself.

Supreme Champion Spirit in 2023

The current Yamazaki 25 won Supreme Champion Spirit at the 2023 International Spirits Challenge.

The award is selected from trophy winners across all spirit categories, placing the whisky at the top of that year’s competition.

Coming only two years after the reformulation, the award became one of the clearest international endorsements of the present three-oak style.

What does “new Yamazaki 25” mean?

“New Yamazaki 25” or “new bottle” is not Suntory’s official product name.

Collectors and retailers commonly use the terms to distinguish the post-2021 reformulated bottling from earlier versions.

The official name is simply Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 25 Year Old.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 25 Year Old

Japan | Osaka | Yamazaki Distillery | Single malt Japanese whisky | Aged 25 years or more | Mizunara oak, Spanish oak and American oak | 700ml | 43% ABV | Malt | Annual production: a little over 1,000 bottles

Fragrant Mizunara wood, mature fruit, rich sweetness, acidity and gentle bitterness define a whisky rebuilt in 2021 around the essence of Yamazaki. The current Yamazaki 25 is a quarter-century expression designed to show three oak traditions in one deeply layered single malt.

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