Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky Review: Elegant and a Bit Peaty

When you think of Japanese whisky, brands like Nikka, Hibiki, or Yamazaki probably spring to mind. But whisky is booming, and more labels are appearing on the scene—Japan included. Welcome to our review of Yamazakura Peated Blended Whisky from the Asaka Distillery.

Let’s kick things off with a question: where do you prefer to eat your pizza? In Italy or at a genuine pizzeria, or could it be just as good somewhere else? Say, a pizzeria run by someone with no ties to Italy, let alone Italian cuisine? Some people won’t mind and will say, “as long as the quality is there.” Others will swear by the real deal, authentic Italian pizza.

Now, let’s tie this to whisky. The famous whisky brand Nikka isn’t technically a true Japanese whisky. Yamazakura whisky is produced at the Asaka Distillery in Japan’s Fukushima region. The distillery opened its doors in 2016 and has been crafting divine Japanese spirits ever since. There’s now a Yamazakura blended malt on the market, a single malt, and this peated blended whisky.

The approachable price jumps out right away. Japanese whisky is often assumed to be expensive, but Asaka turns out a range that’s very affordable. Precisely because the distillery is relatively new and not surrounded by hype, this bottle piques curiosity. And this expression leans smoky rather than floral (unlike the other variant).

The bottle itself isn’t particularly flashy: simple lines, with little more than the name on the label and a few cherry blossom illustrations, quintessentially Japanese. In fact, the name Yamazakura fuses Yama, meaning mountain, and Zakura, meaning cherry blossom. Which does make you wonder whether any of that character comes through in the glass.

Time to nose it. The whisky is surprisingly sweet on the aroma. With “peated,” you might expect something more medicinal, but instead the nose is greeted by a mix of vanilla, caramel, and oak. Only after another pass does a hint of peat creep into the nostrils. A bit of research gives a clear explanation: the whisky matured in oak casks previously used for bourbon and for sherries (Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez).

The first sip raises the question: does that sweet-and-peat combination carry through on the palate? It certainly does. It’s an unusual duo that tickles the tongue, with spices, oak, and yellow fruit, while the finish turns gentler and sweeter. The modest 46 percent ABV is evident, making this a wonderfully approachable whisky for those looking to try something different, and for drinkers who usually prefer sweeter, milder styles but want to flirt with a peated whisky. On the flip side, dyed-in-the-wool peat lovers can probably skip this one. Yamazakura is simply too well-behaved for them.

A quick note on the make-up: this is a blend of various grains, including malted and peated barley. The whisky is double-distilled in a copper pot still.

Yamazakura Peated Blended is a pleasantly surprising whisky at a gentle price point. It makes a great gift if you know someone who loves Japanese whisky or is curious about it and it brings a peated profile to the table as well. It’s enjoyable neat, and it sparks curiosity too. How would it perform in a whisky cocktail? Only one way to find out.

+ Surprisingly gentle price

+ Balances sweetness and peat into a harmonious whole

+ A perfect dram for newcomers to peated whisky

- Not one for hardcore peat aficionados