Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection 2022

The Distillery

Yamazaki — Japan’s First Malt Whisky Distillery

Founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii at the confluence of the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers southwest of Kyoto, Yamazaki holds the distinction of being Japan’s oldest malt whisky distillery. The location was chosen for its exceptional water quality — the same mineral-rich spring water that the 16th-century tea master Sen no Rikyū once favoured. Suntory’s flagship facility operates multiple still shapes and employs a diverse cask programme spanning American oak, Spanish sherry wood, and the highly prized Japanese mizunara oak, creating a house style celebrated for extraordinary complexity and layered elegance.

Yamazaki’s age-statement single malts — particularly the 12, 18 and 25 Year Old expressions — have achieved near-mythical status among collectors since Jim Murray’s 2015 World Whisky Bible named the Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 the world’s best whisky. The distillery’s limited-edition releases command exceptional auction premiums and represent the pinnacle of Japanese whisky craftsmanship, blending Suntory’s century of knowledge with techniques refined across generations.

This Expression

An Ultra-Rare Distillery Selection Release

The Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection 2022 represents one of Suntory’s most exclusive releases, a non-age-statement single malt bottled in 2022 specifically for the distillery’s private selection programme. “Tsukuriwake” translates as “artisanal production method” — a term Suntory reserves for expressions that showcase the full spectrum of their cask and fermentation diversity. These limited-edition releases are produced in minuscule quantities for collectors and connoisseurs, offering access to cask marriages and maturation profiles that rarely leave the distillery’s archives. Details of the specific cask selection, maturation period, and bottling strength remain undisclosed, preserving the mystique typical of Suntory’s most rarefied offerings.

Tasting Profile

Provenance & Authentication

Wines & Spirits SA sources exclusively from a curated network of over 50 certified international suppliers with direct distillery relationships, ensuring complete provenance on every bottle. This Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection 2022 has been stored in our climate-controlled facility maintained at a constant 14°C and 70% relative humidity, conditions monitored continuously to preserve both whisky integrity and packaging condition. At this price tier — CHF 9,500 — authentication is non-negotiable: we guarantee the legitimacy of every seal, label, and batch code. For ultra-rare Japanese releases where grey-market forgeries are a documented concern, our direct sourcing model and Swiss storage infrastructure provide the collector assurance that cannot be matched by auction platforms or unverified online retailers.

Collector Context

Investment-Grade Japanese Whisky

Yamazaki’s limited-edition distillery selection releases occupy the apex of the Japanese whisky market. Since 2015, when international recognition catapulted Japanese single malts into the upper echelons of global collecting, Suntory’s private releases have consistently achieved hammer prices that defy conventional whisky valuation. The Tsukuriwake Selection series, produced in undisclosed quantities and distributed through tightly controlled channels, represents access to cask profiles and maturation experiments rarely commercialised. As Suntory continues to restrict age-statement releases due to stock constraints, these NAS limited editions have become the primary mechanism through which collectors can acquire genuinely rare Yamazaki expressions. Auction records for comparable 2020-2022 distillery-exclusive Yamazaki releases show consistent year-on-year appreciation, driven by demand from Asian and European collectors pursuing complete Suntory vertical collections. This bottling is a museum piece in waiting.

Service & Enjoyment

Reserve this expression for contemplative evening tastings where its layered complexity can be fully appreciated without distraction. Serve neat in a tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the aromatic profile, allowing the whisky to rest for ten minutes after pouring to release its full spectrum of wood influence and distillate character. This is a whisky for milestone celebrations or quiet reflection — pair with dark chocolate or enjoy alongside a traditional Japanese kaiseki progression to honour its cultural provenance. Many collectors will never open this bottle, preserving it as a sealed investment piece and time capsule of Suntory’s 2022 craftsmanship.

🚚 Switzerland · EU · USA · Worldwide

View all rates & worldwide →

Explore & Learn

Yamazaki — Suntory’s Cathedral

• Yamazaki 25 Mizunara — Suntory’s Masterpiece
  Mizunara oak, sherry cask alchemy, discontinued age statements
• Ultimate Guide to Rare Japanese Whisky 2026
  Yamazaki in context — auction trajectory, investment perspective
• Browse our complete Yamazaki collection
  12 / 18 / 25 / Limited Editions / Single casks