How to drink Yamazaki Whisky - As recommended by the Yamazaki Distillery experts

So what’s the best way to enjoy your Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky? Well of course it would depend on which bottle you have as each has its recommended ways. There are no rules set in stone but it would typically be a waste to mix an older bottle such as the Yamazaki 25 with soda or in fact anything at all (including ice). However, a better bottle suited for mixing would be the “No Age” Yamazaki where you can become quite adventurous and even experiment with different ways to prepare your drink. The following below are the 6 recommended ways to enjoy your bottle of Yamazaki whisky as taught by the Yamazaki Distillery experts.

Yamazaki "No Age" Fireball

Whisky and Soda (Sparkling Water or Sprite) - Highball 

1. Fill a glass to the brim with ice and allow it to chill.
2. Pour in the whisky and stir well.
3. Top off the glass with more ice.
4. Add soda (1 part whisky and 3 to 4 parts soda) and stir once with a bar spoon.

During my current visit to Osaka, this seems to be a very popular drink at bars and restaurants. They even serve them in ready to drink cans as pictured here.

This is me enjoying my Suntory Highball at the Don Quijote store in Dotonbori.

Yamazaki Mineral Water sold at the Yamazaki Distillery

Whisky & Natural Mineral Water

1. Fill a glass to the brim with ice and allow it to chill.
2. Pour in the whisky and stir well. 
3. Top off the glass with more ice.
4. Add natural mineral water (1 part whisky and 2 to 2.5 parts water) and stir gently with a bar spoon.

A bit too much ice and H20 for me but for those who find the alcoholic vapors too offensive, this might be the way to go.

Yamazaki 12 on the rocks

On The Rocks

1. Add a large chunk of ice to a glass.
2. Add the whisky and stir gently with a bar spoon.

Best with done with a large sphere of ice instead of little ice cubes so that it chills the whisky enough without diluting the whisky.

Half Yamazaki Whisky Half Mineral Water

Twice Up

1. Pour the whisky into a glass.
2. Pour in an equal amount of natural mineral water stored at room-temperature.

For some a drop of water is enough to open up the flavor but this way recommends an equal amount. Not my preferred way to enjoy my whisky.

Yamazaki 18 with a large chunk of ice.

Half Rock

1. Add a large chunk of ice to a glass.
2. Add the whisky and stir with a bar spoon to chill.
3. Add an equal amount of natural mineral water and stir again gently.

Similar to drinking it on the rocks but you add more water.

Yamazaki 25 enjoyed Neat

Straight or Neat

1. Fill a third to a half glass with whisky and sip straight.
2. *Optional* Prepare a separate glass with iced natural mineral water as a chaser.

IMO the best way to truly enjoy any whisky. Whether it be a single malt, blend or bourbon, you should always sample it neat first before adding anything into it.

I've learned to only drink my whisky neat from the very beginning but it wasn't recently until my recent trip to Japan until I got to properly try a variety of ixes all in one sitting. I really enjoyed the Highball as it makes a perfect refreshment in a hot summer day or even after a heavy workout.

*TIP* The Yamazaki tour offers a free tasting of the "No Age" Yamazaki as a Highball, On the Rocks, or Straight. If you wish to sample the older Suntory whiskies or varieties from all over the world, the tasting room downstairs is one of the most affordable places in the world to do so.

Whisky is Easy on the Body

Low in calories, low in carbohydrates. A single shot of whisky (30ml) with 40% alcohol content has around 68 kilocalories. While brewed beverages like beer, wine and sake contain some carbohydrates, distilled whisky does not contain carbohydrates.

Note: Per 100 grams according to the Standard Tables of Food Compositions in Japan, Fifth Revised Edition (Compiled by the Resources Council, Science and Technology Agency of Japan)

Aromatic Relaxation - The cask raging process produces the characteristically rich aromas of whisky, as soothing to the soul as a walk through a quiet forest.

Almost no purines - A single shot of whisky (30ml) is virtually free of purine content - far less than beer or sake.

Contains polyphenols - Aged whisky contains dissolved polyphenols, which come from the materials used to create the casks in which it is matured for many years.