Yamazaki 12 YearProducer's Tasting Notes Yamazaki is the first Japanese distillery established 1923. The distillery is situated in the vale of Yamazaki, an area of dense bamboo grooves at the foot of Mt. Tennozan outside Kyoto, Japans ancient capital and stronghold of traditional Japanese culture. The spiced wood arrives first then dried cranberries with a lasting muddle of orange marmalade and honey sweetness.