When it comes to the world of Japanese whisky, no name holds as much weight as Yamazaki. Now owned by Suntory, the distillery was the first in Japan, opening in 1923 after Torii Shinjirō decided to employ all he learned in Scotch making, but using the crops and climate of his home nation instead.
However, after more than a century in business, Yamazaki’s oldest and most valuable expression is a rare single malt released in 2020 after spending 55 years aging in oak. One of these bottles is now headed to auction via Bonhams Skinner, headlining their upcoming “Whisky Immortal: The World’s Most Coveted Spirits” sale.
Liquid Time Capsule
First released five years ago in an extremely limited run of just 200 bottles worldwide (half for Japan, half for select global markets), this expression is more than just an ultra-aged spirit but a link to the company’s founding lineage. Distilled in 1960 under the auspices of the father of Japanese whisky and Yamazaki founder Torii Shinjirō just two years before his death, the first liquid was a single malt aged in traditional Japanese mizunara oak casks. Meanwhile, a second liquid was distilled in 1964 before aging in American white oak barrels under the direction of Torii’s son, Keizo Saji. Fast forward to 2020 when fifth-generation chief blender Shinji Fukuyo collaborated with third-generation master blender Shingo Torii to marry these two whiskies together.
For those never lucky enough to try the whisky, Suntory says it starts out with an aroma “redolent of sandal wood” carrying a “sweet, mature bouquet like well-ripened fruit.” On the palate, you’d experience a sweet and slightly bitter profile with woody notes, followed by a hint of smokiness and a “sweet, rich, lingering finish.”
Where Craft Meets Art
Like a lot of luxury spirits, Yamazaki 55 doesn’t just focus on the liquid itself but the presentation. The bottle is a crystal canvas engraved with “Yamazaki” using sandblasting calligraphy techniques. Real gold dust and lacquer adorn the age marking, while the bottle’s opening is wrapped in handmade Echizen washi paper and bound with a Kyo-kumihimo plaited cord — a traditional craft from Kyoto. Even the housing is luxurious, with each bottle presented in a bespoke box crafted from native Japanese mizunara wood and finished with Suruga lacquer.
Historic Value Beyond The Bottle
This won’t be the first time the Yamazaki 55 Year has made it to auction, although it’s the first time in over two years it will be available to the U.S. market. When the first bottles appeared at auction in August 2020, one fetched an astonishing HK$6.2 million (~$795,000) at Bonhams Hong Kong, which is not only a record for Japanese whisky but the most expensive non-Macallan whisky ever sold as well. While the current estimate for this 2025 listing is upwards of $250,000, it has a good chance of going much higher. But judging by the dipping trends in whisky sales this past year, we probably won’t see another record breaker.
Spec Sheet
Whisky: The Yamazaki 55 Year Old Single Malt
Age Statement: 55 Years
Distillation Years: 1960 and 1964
Nose: Sandalwood, well-ripened fruit
Palate: Sweet with slight bitterness, woody notes
Finish: Smokiness, rich and sweet profile
Casks: Japanese mizunara oak and American white oak
ABV: 46%
Pricing & Availability
The Yamazaki 55 Year Old will be available exclusively through Bonhams’ “Whisky Immortal: The World’s Most Coveted Spirits” online auction running May 31 to June 12, with an estimated hammer price exceeding $250,000. For serious collectors looking to participate, registration is open now through the Bonhams website.
Recap
The Yamazaki 55 Year Single Malt Whisky Auction
For the first time in over two years, Yamazaki’s oldest and rarest expression is made available for the U.S. market. This limited-to-200 single malt Japanese whisky was aged for 55 years and is estimated to reach more than a quarter-million dollars. Past listings have broken Japanese whisky auction records.
