Yamazaki Distillery

Japanese children usually screams "SHINKANSEN" as soon as they see the train pass, my baby sister does that too, she just turned 30 by the way. However, today was her lucky day, for the first time she got to ride the bullet train all the way to Kyoto. In Kyoto we changed to a local train bound for Osaka, but got off after a few stops. Yamazaki Distillery, home of Suntory's pride and joy Yamazaki single malt, and partly home of their Hibiki blended. 

Yamazaki pretty much felt like being in the middle of nowhere, vending machines several hundred meters apart. 

We took the guided tour, partly supported with English audio guide. I'm still not sure where the barely and the peat come from, the rest of the ingredients seemed to be top x in Japan. This made us suspicious and rumors of import were started among the Swedish tour participants. 

The stills are very pretty, you'll have to give them that. 

Lots of barrels too, the coolest ones made from top notch Japanese oak. 

And the drinking water was tasty, no doubt about that. We were not impressed by the complementary highball whisky/soda, but got to try the 12 year old Yamazaki straight instead and liked it. Free tour, and free tasting of 3 different whiskeis - not too bad. The Ojisans taking the tour, rushed to the counter to be sure to have time to try all of them. We missed the Hakushu. Aron did not try, but fell asleep anyway. 

The Whisky library.