I’ve always wanted to go to Kyoto for one reason, to visit the Yamazaki Distillery. I love Scotch and I have always been fascinated with whisky, ever since Yamazaki whisky was named the best whisky in the world in 2014, I got curious about how Scotland lost its reign to Japan when it comes to whisky.
I’ve been so psyched to finally get the chance to tour the first whisky distillery in Japan but alas, when I got there, the day tour for the whisky manufacturing process is full and I would have to wait for another month to book my ticket in. So, if you will visit the famed Yamazaki Distillery, you better book a month ahead as they only allow 20 visitors daily and the waiting list is always full. But in consolation I was able to go inside the museum, have whisky tasting, and drop by at the gift shop.
Inside the museum, you’ll learn about the history of Japanese whisky and Shinjiro Torii, the man who pushed the limits to create Japan’s first whisky. The art of making whisky has long been perfected by Scots and it seemed like an impossible feat for Japan to create this product but Shinjiro Torii pushed for an idea that made Yamazaki whisky the brand it is today. Torii was a pharmaceutical wholesaler who started with just selling a sweet red wine called Akadama Port Wine in his first store the Torii Shoten in Osaka. In 1921, he expanded his business and eventually changed his store name to Kotobukiya Limited where he set the foundation of creating Japanese whisky. In 1923, armed with the knowledge that he learned from the production of Scotch whisky, Torii sought Yamazaki, a suburb of Kyoto, to build his first distillery.
Just like tea and wine, the main players in creating good whisky is good water and good soil. Torii sought Yamazaki, a suburb of Kyoto that has both good soil and water, to build his first distillery. Fast forward to today, the distillery produces the best bottles of liquid gold in the market. In 2014, Yamazaki surprised the world and marked the first year that a Japanese whisky claimed the title of ‘Best whisky in the world’ with its bottle of Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013.
I’m not so found of Japanese whiskies as I find some bottles too spicy for my liking but learning more about its heritage made me respect the brand. One highlight of the Yamazaki Distillery is the Whisky Library that made me tipsy just by looking at it. It houses thousands of whisky bottles from different parts of the globe, it’s a dream library for whisky connoisseurs and whisky lovers.
After touring the museum, visitors can partake of the whisky tasting counter. Since you’re inside the distillery, every shot is 100 percent cheaper than drinking your usual flight in a speak easy bar.
NOTE: Yamazaki Distillery will be closed on July 19, August 23 to 25 and September 13, 2016 due to maintenance.
For online reservation visit http://www.suntory.com/factory/yamazaki/inspection/distillery_tour/
